plate no. 3565

Cornish Rollers

oilRealismmarinaoceanwavesskycloudsbirdswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and movement, as well as understanding how light interacts with water. It also provides an opportunity to practice capturing the dynamic shapes and textures of waves.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the horizon line and basic wave shapes, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the sky with a gradient of light yellow to light blue, blending smoothly.
step 03
Block in the base color of the ocean using a mix of blues and greens, varying the tones to suggest depth.
step 04
Begin layering in the darker areas of the waves, focusing on the shadows and troughs.
step 05
Add highlights to the crests and breaking edges of the waves using white mixed with small amounts of blue and green.
step 06
Refine the wave shapes and details, using smaller brushes to create texture and definition.
step 07
Add the birds in the sky with small, precise strokes of white and gray.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a sense of realism and depth.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · viridian green

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · payne's gray

Achieve the various shades of blue-green by mixing cerulean blue and viridian green with varying amounts of white. Use yellow ochre to warm up the sky and add subtle highlights to the water.

techniques