plate no. 3733
Blue and Silver Trouville
James McNeill Whistler, 1865
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle color variations in water and sky. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the beach, sea, and sky.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, sea, and sand using thin washes.
- step 03
Add the cloud formations, paying attention to their shapes and values.
- step 04
Develop the sea with horizontal strokes, suggesting waves and reflections.
- step 05
Add the boats in the distance, keeping them simple and small.
- step 06
Define the rocks on the beach with darker values and rough textures.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights to the waves and clouds.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · violet
Mix blues and whites for the sky and sea, varying the proportions to create different shades. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the sand, adding white to lighten the tone. Mix violet with white for the clouds.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brush texture
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the subtle nuances.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
- →Making the boats too prominent and distracting from the overall composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·violet oil paint
Use a medium-grain canvas for a slightly textured surface. Thin the oil paints with linseed oil to create transparent washes.
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