plate no. 5308
Bundling Forces in Rough Seas
Andreas Achenbach, 1888
experienced study
Students would develop skills in atmospheric perspective, creating dramatic lighting effects, and painting dynamic water movement while learning to balance complex compositions with multiple focal points.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Block in the overall composition with thin washes, establishing the horizon line and major shapes
- step 02
Paint the stormy sky first, working wet-on-wet to blend the dramatic clouds
- step 03
Establish the fortress and cliffs using warm earth tones for structure
- step 04
Paint the middle-ground waves with bold directional strokes
- step 05
Add the sailing vessels, paying attention to their angles and relationship to the waves
- step 06
Develop the foreground waves with texture and foam details
- step 07
Refine the atmospheric perspective in the background
- step 08
Add final details to ships, figures, and highlight the dramatic lighting
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · payne's gray
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
Mix warm grays for the stormy sky using burnt umber and white, create foam with pure white mixed with touches of blue-gray
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·directional brushwork for waves
- ·glazing for depth
- ·impasto for wave texture
common pitfalls
- →overworking the wave foam
- →losing the dramatic value contrast
- →making the composition too busy
- →incorrect perspective on the ships
materials
surface · primed stretched canvas or canvas board
required
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 flat brush
- ·#2 round brush
- ·palette knife
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·stretched canvas 20x24
optional
- ·fan brush for texture
- ·painting medium
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
Use a medium-toned ground to help establish the dramatic value relationships from the start
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