plate no. 3484

Fishermen's Devotions, Étaples

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1920

oilImpressionismgenre paintingcrucifixfiguresbuildingtownreligionstreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with loose brushstrokes, and in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective using color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the cross, the building, and the general placement of the figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with a mix of blues and whites, using loose, visible brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the building and foreground with a mix of blues, browns, and blacks.
step 04
Add the mid-tones to the building and figures, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Introduce the lighter areas around the statues and the figures in the foreground, using thicker paint.
step 06
Refine the details of the cross and the building, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add small details to the figures to suggest movement and texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix blues and browns to create the dark tones for the building and foreground. Use white to lighten the blues for the sky and to create highlights on the figures and statues. Add small amounts of yellow ochre and alizarin crimson to warm up the colors in the building and figures.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·value blocking

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat painting.
→Using colors that are too saturated, making the painting look unnatural.
→Not simplifying the complex scene enough, leading to a cluttered composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits