plate no. 0153
Newhaven Packet
Henry Moore, 1885
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering dynamic water with visible brushstrokes. Students will also learn to mix subtle color variations to create depth and realism.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, the position of the sailboat, and the main cloud formations.
- step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes, blending blues, whites, and grays to create the cloud formations.
- step 03
Block in the general color and value of the sea, paying attention to the overall tonal range.
- step 04
Begin to define the waves with directional brushstrokes, using darker blues and greens for the shadows and lighter blues and whites for the highlights.
- step 05
Add details to the sailboat, using a fine brush to capture its shape and form.
- step 06
Refine the cloud formations, adding subtle variations in color and value to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Continue to develop the waves, adding more detail and texture to create a sense of movement.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to the entire painting, paying attention to the overall balance and harmony.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · payne's grey
Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre to create subtle variations. For the sea, mix blues and greens, adding white for highlights and raw umber for shadows.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·directional brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless image.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, causing the background to appear too sharp and detailed.
- →Getting the wave proportions wrong, making the waves look unnatural.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas with a neutral color can be helpful.
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