plate no. 0546

Circular Quay, Sydney

oilImpressionismmarinawaterboatsskybuildingsfiguresdock

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in rendering complex shapes like boats and buildings with simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of major elements like the dock, boats, and buildings.
step 02
Establish the sky with a wash of light yellows, oranges, and pinks, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Block in the distant buildings and boats with muted grays and browns, paying attention to their relative values.
step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, using a mix of greens, blues, and grays, and capturing the reflections of the sky and boats.
step 05
Add details to the dock and figures, using darker values to create contrast and definition.
step 06
Refine the details of the boats, including the masts, sails, and smoke.
step 07
Add final touches to the sky, water, and reflections, ensuring a sense of atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Glaze with thin washes to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson · sap green

Mix greens by combining ultramarine blue and yellow ochre, and grays by combining burnt umber and ultramarine blue with white. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and muting colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques