plate no. 8848

Floats and Afloat

Edward Wadsworth, 1928

oilSurrealismstill lifestill lifefishing floatsshellseasailboatarchitectural drawing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering geometric forms, understanding light and shadow, and creating a sense of depth through layering and color variation. It also provides practice in painting smooth, blended surfaces and sharp edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the background sky and sea with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the table, wall, and geometric shapes.
step 04
Begin layering colors and values on the fishing floats, shell, and yarn, building up depth and form.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the architectural drawing, using fine lines and subtle shading.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows on all objects to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Add the details of the sailboat in the background.
step 08
Paint the frame around the still life.

color palette

primary · red · white · brown · blue

secondary · beige · gray · black

Achieve the subtle variations in the sky by mixing blue with white and a touch of gray. Create the brown yarn color by mixing burnt umber with a touch of black and red.

techniques