plate no. 2039
Hermanus Seascape
Gregoire Boonzaier, 1945
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in simplifying complex natural forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing the atmospheric perspective of a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of major rock formations.
- step 02
Block in the sky and sea with thin washes of color, establishing the overall tone.
- step 03
Lay in the basic colors of the rocks and vegetation, using a limited palette.
- step 04
Build up layers of color on the rocks, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 05
Add details to the vegetation, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the waves and sea foam, paying attention to the direction of light.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and add any final details.
- step 08
Add final highlights to the rocks and waves to create a sense of depth.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · viridian green · cadmium red
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve the rock colors by blending burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and small amounts of ultramarine blue and titanium white. Use white to lighten and create highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Creating mud by overmixing colors.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making distant objects too sharp.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·palette
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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