plate no. 6103

Gloucester Harbor

John French Sloan, 1916

oil, canvasNew Realismcityscapeharborbuildingswaterskycloudsboats

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for atmospheric perspective and understanding how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and forms. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with expressive brushstrokes.

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: horizon line, major buildings, and cloud formations.
step 02
Block in the sky with varying shades of blue and white, focusing on the cloud shapes.
step 03
Establish the water with horizontal strokes, reflecting the sky's colors and adding subtle variations.
step 04
Define the buildings with simplified geometric forms, using greens, browns, and grays.
step 05
Paint the large, dark structure in the foreground, paying attention to its form and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and roofs, using smaller brushstrokes.
step 07
Include boats and other small elements to add interest and scale.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Create greens by mixing blues and yellows, and browns by combining umber with blues and yellows. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques