plate no. 5813
Midsummer Day
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing for subtle variations in the sea and sky, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It's a good exercise in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the coastline, clouds, and boat.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sea and sky, starting with the darkest values.
- step 03
Add lighter values to the sea and sky to create depth and dimension.
- step 04
Mix subtle variations of blue and white to create the effect of light on the water.
- step 05
Paint the coastline and clouds with soft, blended edges.
- step 06
Add the small boat with a contrasting color to draw the eye.
- step 07
Refine the details and edges of the painting.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · raw umber · yellow ochre
Mix ultramarine blue and titanium white for the sky and sea. Add small amounts of cadmium red to create pinkish hues for the clouds. Use raw umber and yellow ochre to create earth tones for the coastline.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·simplification
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the colors and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
- →Neglecting the subtle variations in value and color.
- →Not simplifying the scene enough and getting bogged down in details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes (#4, #6, #8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider pre-toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
