plate no. 1477

Beach with Sunflowers and Umbrellas

Maria Bozoky, 1979

mixed techniqueExpressionismlandscapebeachsunflowersumbrellasseabuildingsky

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for practicing loose sketching and layering transparent washes to create depth and texture. Students will learn to simplify complex scenes and capture the essence of a subject with minimal detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the building, sunflowers, umbrellas, and horizon line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow and orange to the foreground for the sand.
step 03
Add a blue wash to the sky and sea, varying the intensity for depth.
step 04
Use green to loosely define the sunflower stems and leaves, allowing the underpainting to show through.
step 05
Paint the sunflower heads with brown and yellow, using quick, expressive strokes.
step 06
Add the umbrella shapes with orange, red, and blue, keeping them simple and stylized.
step 07
Define the building with green and blue lines, emphasizing the structure's edges.
step 08
Add final details and accents with colored pencils or markers to enhance the sketch-like quality.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · cadmium orange

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Achieve variations in the sky and sea by diluting the blue with water. Use orange and yellow to create a range of sunflower tones.

techniques