plate no. 2510

Jetty at Low Tide (The Water Pier)

Joseph DeCamp, 1901

oil, canvasImpressionismmarinawaterjettybuildingsskyreflectionboat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections in water and using broken color to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in depicting wooden structures with realistic texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the jetty, buildings, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: sky, water, land, and jetty, using thin washes.
step 03
Begin to build up the layers of color, paying attention to the subtle variations in the water and sky.
step 04
Add details to the jetty structure, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Capture the reflections in the water, using vertical strokes and slightly desaturated colors.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and landscape in the background.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Achieve the water's subtle color variations by mixing blues, yellows, and browns with white. Use a limited palette to maintain color harmony.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·dry brush
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Making the reflections too literal and symmetrical.
→Using colors that are too saturated and bright.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, sap green)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife