plate no. 9484
Landscape near the sea
Giovanni (Nino) Costa, 1885
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
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 placement of major elements like trees and the figure.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, blending softly to create cloud formations.
- step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees in the midground using a mix of browns, greens, and blues.
- step 04
Add lighter greens and yellows to the foreground to create the grassy field.
- step 05
Paint the distant sea with muted blues and grays, suggesting the horizon line.
- step 06
Add details to the trees, varying the colors and values to create texture and depth.
- step 07
Paint the small figure and dog in the midground, keeping the details simple.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of light and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · cadmium yellow
Mix blues and whites for the sky, add raw umber to darken greens and create earth tones, and use yellow ochre to warm up the overall palette.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not muted enough.
- →Neglecting the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform and lacking variation.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Nesebar
Felix Philipp Kanitz
View of the city of Nettuno at dawn with fishing boats
Giovanni (Nino) Costa
Koriten Fortress
Felix Philipp Kanitz
A London Jo - the End of the Day
Augustus Edwin Mulready
Chestnut trees in the autumn in Antagnes, Switzerland
Hubertine Heijermans
Avenue of Indian Rubber Trees at Peradeniya, Ceylon
Marianne North
Paisaje Con Río
José Santiago Garnelo y Alda
An Oysterman
William Henry Hunt