plate no. 2767

Holiday, Mission Beach

Charles Reiffel, 1938

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingbeachfiguresoceanskyumbrellaslamppost

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing a sense of atmosphere and depicting figures in a landscape using loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main compositional elements: horizon line, lamppost, and the general placement of figures and umbrellas.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of muted yellow and gray, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Establish the ocean with broad strokes of green and blue, varying the intensity to suggest depth and movement.
step 04
Roughly define the beach area with warm browns and tans, adding texture with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Begin adding the figures and umbrellas, focusing on their shapes and colors rather than precise details.
step 06
Use thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes to highlight areas of interest, such as the figures in the foreground and the lamppost.
step 07
Add small details like the popcorn cart and balloons to enhance the scene.
step 08
Refine the overall composition by adjusting colors, values, and textures as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · viridian

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) with white. Use white to lighten and soften colors, creating a hazy atmosphere.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·alla prima
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the sense of light and atmosphere.
→Making the figures too stiff or static.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, cerulean blue, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, viridian)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags