plate no. 1389

No Areinho, Douro

António de Carvalho da Silva Porto, 1880

oilImpressionismgenre paintingboatfigureswaterskylandscaperiver

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice blending techniques to achieve soft transitions and learn to depict reflections in water. It also provides an opportunity to study atmospheric perspective and create a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the boat and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water.
step 03
Add the darker values for the boat and figures, paying attention to the shapes and proportions.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the boat, including the structure and reflections.
step 05
Add details to the figures, focusing on the faces and clothing.
step 06
Create the background landscape, using lighter values to suggest distance.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix white with small amounts of burnt umber and raw sienna to achieve the muted tones of the sky and water. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the darker tones of the boat.

techniques