plate no. 2815

By the New England Seashore

oilImpressionismgenre paintingbeachoceanfiguresrockswavessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and capturing the subtle color variations in a coastal scene. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the rocks, figures, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky and ocean with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the main values on the rocks, noting the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Add the figures, focusing on their general shapes and colors rather than details.
step 05
Begin building up texture on the rocks with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Add the waves, using horizontal strokes and varying the color to suggest movement.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures and rocks, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches to the sky and ocean, blending colors and softening edges.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · viridian green

Mix blues and whites for the sky and ocean, varying the proportions to create depth. Use burnt sienna and white with touches of other colors for the rocks. Mix greens and yellows for the grassy areas.

techniques