plate no. 6680
Nocturne in Blue and Gold
some experience helpful
Students would develop skills in atmospheric painting and working with limited color palettes to create mood. This piece teaches the subtle art of painting light effects and reflections in low-light conditions.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
2
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a toned canvas using a mid-tone blue-gray
- step 02
Block in the major horizontal divisions of sky, water, and distant shore
- step 03
Establish the darkest darks in the foreground water and ships
- step 04
Add the lighter sky area with subtle gradations
- step 05
Paint the ship silhouettes as simple dark shapes
- step 06
Add the small warm lights (yellow-orange dots) sparingly
- step 07
Create reflections in the water with vertical strokes
- step 08
Soften edges throughout with gentle blending
color palette
primary · prussian blue · payne's gray · titanium white
secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt umber · raw umber
Mix various grays from blue and brown, use tiny amounts of warm colors for lights, keep mixtures muted and atmospheric
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·reflection painting
common pitfalls
- →Adding too much detail to distant elements
- →Making colors too bright or saturated
- →Overworking the soft atmospheric effects
- →Making reflections too precise
materials
surface · stretched canvas, pre-toned with neutral gray
required
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 flat brush
- ·#2 round brush
- ·prussian blue oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow oil paint
- ·canvas 16x20
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·#12 flat brush
- ·fan brush
A toned canvas is essential for this type of atmospheric work to maintain consistent middle values
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