plate no. 8788
Brackley Beach
Robert Harris, 1907
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice capturing atmospheric perspective and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It also provides an opportunity to work with a limited color palette and focus on brushwork to create texture.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, adding hints of yellow and white for clouds.
- step 03
Paint the sea with a dark blue, gradually lightening the color as it approaches the shore.
- step 04
Add the sand using a mix of beige, brown, and white, varying the tones to create depth.
- step 05
Paint the figures with simple shapes, using dark colors for clothing and lighter colors for skin.
- step 06
Add highlights to the water and sand to create a sense of light and reflection.
- step 07
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the sky, sea, and sand.
- step 08
Refine the details of the figures and add any final touches.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna
Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt umber and raw sienna to create the sand, varying the proportions for different tones. Darken blues with burnt umber for the sea.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·simplified shapes
- ·color temperature
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat image.
- →Making the figures too detailed and distracting from the overall scene.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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