plate no. 9860

Blue House on the Shore

Paul Nash, 1931

oilSurrealismlandscapebuildingseaboatsskybeacharchitecture

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing to achieve specific hues and practice creating geometric forms with accurate perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building, boats, and horizon line, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, sea, sand, and the blue of the building.
step 03
Mix the specific shades of blue for the building, considering subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the building, such as the window, door arches, and decorative elements.
step 05
Paint the boats, focusing on their shapes and reflections in the water.
step 06
Refine the details of the sand and sea, adding texture with brushstrokes.
step 07
Add shadows to give the painting depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to color and value to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · cadmium yellow

The key blue is achieved by mixing ultramarine blue with white, and small amounts of yellow ochre to adjust the hue. The sand color is a mix of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white.

techniques