plate no. 2126

Japanese Bay

David Burliuk, 1921

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapeseaskycliffsvegetationrockslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and forms. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of light and atmosphere in a scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the cliffs, water, and sky, paying attention to proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the sky, water, and land using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up layers of color on the cliffs, using darker greens and browns for shadows and lighter greens and yellows for highlights.
step 04
Add texture to the cliffs and vegetation using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, varying the blues and greens to create depth and movement.
step 06
Add the rocks in the water and along the shoreline, using a mix of browns, yellows, and oranges.
step 07
Refine the details of the sky, adding clouds and subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create earth tones by mixing browns with blues and yellows. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques