plate no. 5738
Heat and Dust
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare your canvas with a thin layer of gesso, if needed.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the horizon line, beach, and the placement of the palm trees.
- step 03
Block in the sky with a gradient of pink and orange, blending smoothly.
- step 04
Paint the beach with a base of yellow-orange, adding subtle variations in tone.
- step 05
Add the water, reflecting the sky's colors with a slightly darker tone.
- step 06
Paint the palm trees with dark brown and green, using soft brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add the sun as a soft orange circle, blending it into the sky.
- step 08
Refine details and add highlights to the beach and trees.
color palette
primary · pink · yellow · orange
secondary · brown · green
Achieve the sky colors by mixing pink with white and a touch of orange. The beach color is a mix of yellow and orange with variations achieved by adding small amounts of brown or white.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·soft brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overblending and losing the subtle color variations.
- →Making the horizon line too sharp.
- →Using too much detail in the background.
- →Not achieving a smooth gradient in the sky.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a soft brush for blending. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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