plate no. 2220

Northern Lights over Four Men in a Boat

oilRomanticismmarinaboatfigureswatertreesskyreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering techniques to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and values. It's a good exercise in capturing mood and light with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the canvas with a dark underpainting (burnt umber or similar).
step 02
Sketch the basic shapes of the boat, figures, and the horizon line.
step 03
Block in the dark values of the boat and the water using a dark brown/black mixture.
step 04
Add the lighter values to the water, creating horizontal strokes to suggest movement.
step 05
Paint the trees in the background with vertical strokes, varying the thickness and color slightly.
step 06
Add the reflections of the trees in the water using similar vertical strokes.
step 07
Define the figures in the boat with simple shapes and values.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the boat, figures, and water.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · Prussian blue

Mix white with small amounts of umber and ochre to create the lighter tones in the sky and water. Use black and umber for the darkest areas, and add a touch of blue to the darks for depth.

techniques