plate no. 6374
Night at the seaside
Konstantin Bogaevsky, 1903
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the rocks, horizon line, and boat.
- step 02
Establish the dark areas of the painting with a thin wash of dark blue or brown.
- step 03
Block in the general shapes of the rocks with a mid-tone gray-green.
- step 04
Begin layering in the white of the waves, paying attention to the direction and flow of the water.
- step 05
Add highlights to the rocks and waves to create form and dimension.
- step 06
Paint the trees in the background, using darker greens and blues to suggest distance.
- step 07
Refine the details of the boat and sails.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the various shades of gray in the rocks and waves. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to warm up the grays and create highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the waves and losing the sense of movement.
- →Making the rocks too uniform in color and texture.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the light and dark areas.
- →Getting the proportions of the boat wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to help create the broken color effect. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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