plate no. 9074
Przystań na Solcu
Aleksander Gierymski, 1883
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing light and shadow with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, boats, and horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the basic value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the sky with a mix of white and a touch of yellow ochre.
- step 04
Add darker values to the buildings and boats, focusing on shadows.
- step 05
Begin adding details with thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Use lighter values to suggest reflections in the water.
- step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and boats, adding highlights.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · raw sienna · ultramarine blue
Mix burnt umber and white for most of the mid-tones. Add yellow ochre for warmer highlights. Use a touch of ultramarine blue to cool down shadows.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Creating muddy colors
- →Ignoring the value structure
- →Failing to simplify the scene
- →Using too much detail in the background
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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