plate no. 8799

Deptford Dockyard: 'Les Trois Amis'

oil, canvasRococomarinashipswaterskybuildingsfiguresflags

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, particularly with complex shapes like ships, and in rendering reflections in water. It also offers practice in painting details like rigging and flags.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the horizon line, major ship positions, and building placements.
step 02
Establish the sky and water with broad washes of color, paying attention to the subtle gradations.
step 03
Block in the basic shapes of the ships, focusing on accurate proportions and perspective.
step 04
Add details to the ships, including masts, rigging, and flags, working from general to specific.
step 05
Paint the buildings and figures in the background, simplifying details to maintain depth.
step 06
Develop the reflections in the water, using slightly darker and less defined versions of the objects above.
step 07
Refine the details and values throughout the painting, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small boats and figures, to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Create the ship's dark tones by mixing raw umber and ivory black, and use burnt sienna and cadmium red for the wooden parts.

techniques

·Linear perspective
·Atmospheric perspective
·Glazing
·Scumbling
·Rendering reflections

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective on the ships and buildings.
→Overworking the details, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Inaccurate color mixing, leading to muddy or unrealistic tones.
→Neglecting the subtle gradations in the sky and water.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags