plate no. 4046

Breaking Waves

oilRealismmarinawavesoceanskycloudsseagullswater

some experience helpful

This painting provides a great opportunity to practice capturing the movement and texture of water, as well as creating atmospheric perspective with subtle color variations. Students will also learn to create dynamic compositions with multiple focal points.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the horizon line and major wave formations.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blue washes, blending the clouds softly.
step 03
Block in the dark blue areas of the deep water, gradually lightening towards the foreground.
step 04
Begin building up the wave forms with layers of turquoise and white, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Add highlights to the crests of the waves, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Create the foam and spray with small, broken strokes of white and light blue.
step 07
Paint the seagulls with simple shapes and minimal detail.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and realism.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · viridian green · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of blue and green with white to achieve the different tones of the water. Use yellow ochre sparingly to warm up certain areas.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the sense of movement.
→Creating flat, lifeless water by not varying the values.
→Making the foam too uniform and unnatural.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making the background too sharp.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (cerulean blue, ultramarine blue, titanium white, viridian green, yellow ochre)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife