plate no. 5134
La Plage D'Ambleteuse
Carolus-Duran, 1869
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle color variations in a landscape scene. It also provides practice in simplifying forms and suggesting details with loose brushwork.
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 the major elements (sand dunes, figure).
- step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of gray and white, capturing the cloud formations.
- step 03
Lay in the base colors for the sand, using a mix of ochre, white, and a touch of brown.
- step 04
Add the distant hills and dunes, paying attention to their muted colors and soft edges.
- step 05
Paint the figure with simple shapes and colors, suggesting form with highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Add details like the wooden posts and the suggestion of waves in the distance.
- step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights on the sand to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix various shades of gray for the sky by combining white, black, and a touch of blue or brown. Achieve the sandy tones by mixing ochre, white, and umber in different proportions. Mute the colors of the distant hills by adding a touch of gray to the greens and browns.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Creating too much contrast and making the scene look harsh.
- →Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the sand and sky.
- →Making the figure too detailed and drawing too much attention to it.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for broken color effects. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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