plate no. 8127

Point Lobos, Monterey, California

Thomas Moran, 1912

oil, canvasRomanticismlandscapeoceanrockstreescloudswavescoastline

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create depth and atmosphere, as well as understanding how to depict the movement of water and the texture of rocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the major rock formations and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes, blending the colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the rocks, using a limited palette of earth tones and gradually building up the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Begin to define the details of the rocks, paying attention to the texture and the way the light interacts with the surface.
step 05
Add the trees and foliage, using a variety of greens and browns to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 06
Paint the ocean, focusing on capturing the movement of the waves and the reflections of the sky.
step 07
Add the white foam of the crashing waves, using short, broken strokes of white paint.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches, such as highlights on the rocks and subtle variations in the sky.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · raw umber

Mix blues and whites for the sky and ocean, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for the rocks, highlighting with white and yellow ochre. Mix greens with blue and yellow ochre, adding touches of burnt sienna for shadows.

techniques