plate no. 6305

O’Neil’s Wharf

Edwin Dickinson, 1913

oilExpressionismmarinawaterskybuildingboatslandscapewharf

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto application and broken color techniques to create texture and atmospheric effects. It will also teach them how to simplify 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: the building on the left, the horizon line, and the suggestion of boats.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted burnt umber or raw sienna to tone the canvas and establish the overall value structure.
step 03
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Define the water with varying shades of blue, white, and hints of green, applying paint thickly with visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the suggestion of land with ochre and brown tones, keeping the edges soft and undefined.
step 06
Use thicker impasto to create the building on the left, mixing browns, greens, and whites.
step 07
Add small details like the suggestion of masts or figures with dark, quick strokes.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · raw sienna

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water, adding small amounts of ochre or umber to create subtle variations. Use white to lighten and desaturate colors for a hazy effect.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating hard edges and losing the atmospheric effect.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing and creating subtle variations.
→Not establishing a clear value structure early on.