plate no. 6156
Evening Sun: Low Tide
Karl Schrag, 1976
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice creating texture with visible brushstrokes and understanding how to use a limited color palette to create a cohesive landscape. It will also help with understanding value and how to use it to create depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills, water, trees, and sun.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light orange wash.
- step 03
Paint the hills with a dark gray, using directional brushstrokes to suggest form.
- step 04
Add lighter gray highlights to the hills to create depth and texture.
- step 05
Paint the water areas with a bright yellow.
- step 06
Add the trees in the background with dark gray, using vertical strokes.
- step 07
Define the sun with a solid orange circle.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · gray · orange · yellow
secondary · green
Mix different shades of gray by combining black and white. Adjust the orange by adding a touch of red or yellow. The green is a very small accent, so a pre-mixed green is fine.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·directional strokes
- ·color blocking
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
- →Making the colors too saturated or bright.
- →Not paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
- →Ignoring the value contrast and creating a flat image.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints (gray, orange, yellow, black, white)
- ·Round brush
- ·Flat brush
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Water or solvent (depending on paint type)
optional
- ·Medium (for oil paints)
- ·Easel
A textured canvas can enhance the effect of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to match the original painting's aesthetic.
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