plate no. 8306

Lagoon in Grado

Antonio Sicurezza, 1973

oil, panelPost-Impressionismlandscapewaterdockvegetationskyreflectionlandscape

some experience helpful

This painting provides an opportunity to practice atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. Students can also develop their skills in simplifying complex forms and capturing the essence of a scene with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the dock and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water.
step 03
Establish the values for the landmass in the background and the vegetation on the left.
step 04
Add the details of the dock structure, paying attention to the angles and proportions.
step 05
Paint the reflections in the water, using slightly darker and more muted versions of the colors above.
step 06
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add the vertical posts and their reflections.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious overall effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · viridian green

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective. Muted tones are achieved by mixing complementary colors.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·alla prima
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating reflections that are too symmetrical or identical to the objects above.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.