plate no. 3188
Morning at Laguna
Charles Reiffel, 1935
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and movement, and in using visible brushstrokes to build texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into manageable shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the rocks and figures.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, ocean, and rocks, using thin washes.
- step 03
Begin layering colors in the sky and ocean, creating variations in tone and hue.
- step 04
Add details to the rocks, using darker values in the shadows and lighter values on the highlights.
- step 05
Paint the figures, keeping them simple and suggestive.
- step 06
Add the white highlights of the breaking waves and foam.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to emphasize the texture.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · viridian green · cadmium orange · ultramarine blue
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows. Use white to lighten colors and create variations in value. Mix orange and umber for the rocks.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Making the figures too detailed or prominent.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted flat brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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