plate no. 3290

Brewing Storm, Monhegan

Rockwell Kent, 1950

oilAmerican Realismlandscapeoceanrockscliffwavesskystorm

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create depth using value and color temperature. It will also provide practice in rendering realistic rock textures and wave forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the cliff, rocks, and horizon line, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the dark tones of the sky and the overall value structure of the cliff face.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the ocean, using darker blues and greens in the distance and lighter, more turquoise tones closer to the viewer.
step 04
Begin adding details to the cliff face, using a variety of grays, browns, and blacks to create texture and form.
step 05
Paint the waves, focusing on capturing the movement and energy of the water. Use white and light blues to highlight the crests of the waves.
step 06
Refine the details of the rocks in the foreground, paying attention to the way the light hits them.
step 07
Add final touches to the sky, blending the colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray by combining burnt umber and ultramarine blue with white. Use yellow ochre to warm up the grays for the rocks. Mix viridian green with ultramarine and white for the turquoise water.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·dry brushing
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Overworking the details of the rocks and losing the overall sense of form.
→Making the colors too bright and saturated, which will detract from the moody atmosphere.
→Not paying enough attention to the way the light interacts with the water.