plate no. 7946

Caught in the Ice

oilRomanticismmarinashipiceboatswaterskyfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures like ice and clouds. It also provides practice in depicting a large ship and smaller figures within a landscape.

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 ship, icebergs, and boats, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition, considering the placement of the focal point.
step 03
Block in the sky with light gray and white, creating soft, blended clouds.
step 04
Paint the icebergs with varying shades of white, gray, and blue, adding texture with short brushstrokes.
step 05
Render the ship with dark browns and blacks, adding details like rigging and masts.
step 06
Paint the boats with similar dark tones, reflecting light from the surrounding ice and water.
step 07
Add details to the figures, using small brushstrokes to suggest their forms.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding highlights to create depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

Achieve the cool tones of the ice by mixing white with small amounts of blue and gray. Create the warm tones of the ship and boats by mixing browns and blacks with touches of sienna and ochre. Use thin washes of color for the sky to create a sense of atmosphere.

techniques