plate no. 3540

Dieppe

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguresbuildingsskycloudsbeachdogs

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also encourages loose brushwork and capturing fleeting moments.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, figures, and horizon line using a diluted wash of burnt umber.
step 02
Block in the sky with a mix of white, blue, and a touch of brown, paying attention to the cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the ground plane with a base of yellow ochre and raw umber, varying the tones to suggest depth and shadows.
step 04
Add the buildings using a mix of red, white, and brown, simplifying details and focusing on their overall form.
step 05
Paint the figures with quick, gestural strokes, using a limited palette of black, white, and touches of color to indicate clothing.
step 06
Add small details like the dogs and other figures in the background, keeping them simple and indistinct.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to achieve a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using white to create subtle variations. The sky is a blend of white and blue with a touch of brown. The buildings are a mix of red, white and brown.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast and making the painting appear harsh.
→Failing to simplify the forms and getting bogged down in unnecessary details.
→Not establishing a clear sense of depth and perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·titanium white oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·ivory black oil paint
·round brushes size 2, 4, and 6

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·medium gloss

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for broken color and dry brush techniques. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein