plate no. 5923

Olympic with Returned Soldiers

Arthur Lismer, 1919

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)marinashipharborfiguresbuildingswatersnow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in applying expressive brushstrokes and capturing the atmosphere of a busy harbor scene. It also encourages the use of simplified forms and bold color choices to convey depth and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the ship, buildings, and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, such as the sky, water, and ship's hull.
step 03
Add the distinctive blue stripes on the ship, paying attention to their curvature and perspective.
step 04
Define the shapes of the buildings and figures with bold brushstrokes.
step 05
Create texture in the snow and water using short, broken strokes.
step 06
Add details to the ship, such as the funnels and rigging.
step 07
Refine the colors and values to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red · payne's gray

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine blue with white and a touch of yellow ochre. Create grays by mixing white with burnt umber and a small amount of blue. Use red and umber to create the colors for the tugboats.

techniques