plate no. 9189

Lazing in the Sand Dunes

oilExpressionismlandscapebeachsand dunesskyfigureslandscapesea

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified shapes and color blocking to represent a landscape. It also encourages experimentation with expressive brushstrokes and a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the large shapes of the sand dunes.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue, creating subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Apply a base layer of white to the sand dunes, leaving some areas slightly off-white to create depth.
step 04
Add the colored shapes to the dunes using bold, flat strokes. Don't over-blend.
step 05
Paint the figures with simplified shapes, using black or dark brown.
step 06
Add the vertical lines representing dune grasses with quick, expressive strokes.
step 07
Refine the details, such as the horizon line and the subtle variations in the sand.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · orange · purple · red

Mix the sky colors by blending ultramarine blue with varying amounts of white. Create the purple by mixing red and blue. Achieve the sand color by mixing white with a touch of yellow ochre and burnt umber.

techniques

·color blocking
·expressive brushstrokes
·simplified shapes
·limited palette
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, losing the expressive brushstrokes.
→Making the composition too detailed, losing the simplified aesthetic.
→Using too many colors, creating a muddy effect.
→Not varying the tones of the white in the sand dunes, resulting in a flat appearance.