plate no. 6900
Les Voiles
Carlos Nadal, 1984
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It's also a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition: horizon line, placement of buildings, figures, and boats.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, beach, and the general color of the buildings.
- step 03
Add darker values to define the shapes of the buildings and figures, using bold brushstrokes.
- step 04
Introduce lighter values to create highlights and add dimension to the water and buildings.
- step 05
Define the details of the boats and figures with thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add small details like windows, flags, and masts, keeping the style loose and expressive.
- step 07
Refine the colors and values, adjusting as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to emphasize the expressive brushstrokes.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow
Mix blues and white for the sky and water. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the beach. Create variations by adding small amounts of other colors.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·expressive brushwork
- ·color mixing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Trying to create too much detail.
- →Using colors that are too clean and not mixed enough.
- →Ignoring the overall composition and focusing too much on individual elements.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·apron
Use thick paint and bold brushstrokes to capture the expressive style of the original painting. Acrylics are a good option for beginners due to their fast drying time.
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