plate no. 4634

North Beach Swimming Pool

William James Glackens, 1916

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapebuildingsfigureswaterskytreesfence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, figures, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, using loose, horizontal brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the buildings, using a mix of whites, grays, and subtle color variations.
step 04
Paint the foliage with short, broken strokes of greens, yellows, and blues, creating a sense of texture and depth.
step 05
Add the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes and color relationships.
step 06
Paint the water with horizontal strokes of blues, greens, and purples, reflecting the colors of the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 07
Add details such as the fence and architectural elements, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
step 08
Refine the colors and values, adjusting the overall balance and harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of green by combining blue and yellow, and create muted tones by adding a touch of complementary color. Achieve the building's off-white color by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber.

techniques

·broken color
·impressionistic brushwork
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and unnatural look.
→Neglecting the importance of value relationships in creating depth and form.
→Failing to simplify the complex scene into basic shapes and color masses.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, cerulean blue, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, viridian green, burnt umber, yellow ochre)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags