plate no. 1113

Marine Set

Edward Wadsworth, 1936

oilSurrealismstill lifestarfishropeseaskystill lifebuoy

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in precise rendering of objects and understanding of surrealist composition. It also provides practice in creating smooth gradients and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the objects.
step 02
Block in the background colors: the wooden plank, the sky, the sea, and the floor.
step 03
Start painting the larger objects like the starfish and the ropes, focusing on their basic shapes and values.
step 04
Add details to the objects, such as the texture of the starfish and the individual strands of the ropes.
step 05
Paint the smaller objects like the buoy and the dart, paying attention to their details and shadows.
step 06
Refine the colors and values of the entire painting, making sure that the objects are well-integrated into the background.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the highlights on the objects and the reflections in the sea.
step 08
Let the painting dry completely.

color palette

primary · raw umber · sky blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium orange · sap green · yellow ochre

Mix different shades of brown using raw umber, burnt sienna, and white. Create the sky blue by mixing ultramarine blue and white. Achieve the green of the buoy by mixing sap green and a touch of yellow.

techniques