plate no. 5088

Farol da Barra

Jose Pancetti, 1952

oilExpressionismlandscapebeachlighthouseoceanskysandrocks

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing to achieve realistic water and sand tones, and learn how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It's also a good exercise in creating depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line, the lighthouse position, and the major landforms.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, gradually darkening towards the top.
step 03
Paint the ocean with varying shades of blue and turquoise, adding white highlights for the waves.
step 04
Establish the basic tones of the sand, using a mix of beige, brown, and white, and adding subtle shadows.
step 05
Paint the lighthouse and the building complex on top of the hill, paying attention to the architectural details.
step 06
Add the rock formations using dark browns and grays, highlighting the edges with lighter tones.
step 07
Include the figures on the beach with simple strokes of color.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches, such as the shadows on the sand and the highlights on the water.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water, varying the ratios to create depth. Use raw umber and white for the sand, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the rocks.

techniques