plate no. 7462

Cape Inubo Lighthouse

Fujishima Takeji, 1940

oilPost-Impressionismmarinalighthousesearocksskycoastlinebuildings

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing loose brushwork and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. Recreating this will help students learn to capture the essence of a landscape with minimal detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the land, lighthouse, and sky.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, land, and sea.
step 03
Add darker values to define the shapes of the rocks and coastline.
step 04
Introduce lighter values to create highlights on the water and land.
step 05
Paint the details of the lighthouse and other buildings.
step 06
Refine the brushstrokes to capture the texture of the scene.
step 07
Add final touches to the sky and water to create depth.
step 08
Let it dry and add a varnish

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix burnt umber and white for the land, add a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix Prussian blue and white for the water, adding a touch of burnt umber to dull the color. Use white with a touch of blue and umber for the sky.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·color mixing
·blocking in
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Using too much detail
→Not simplifying the shapes
→Creating mud by over-mixing colors

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·burnt umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·Prussian blue oil paint
·#6 round brush
·#4 flat brush
·palette
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium gloss
·easel

Use a canvas with a medium texture to help create the impressionistic brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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