plate no. 0124

Rainstorm over the Sea

oil, paperRomanticismmarinasearainskycloudshorizonfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and expressive brushwork to convey mood and weather. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and major cloud formations.
step 02
Block in the sky with thin washes of grey and white, varying the tones to suggest depth.
step 03
Apply darker tones for the rain shafts, using vertical brushstrokes.
step 04
Establish the dark mass of the sea with horizontal strokes, adding subtle variations in value.
step 05
Paint the foreground with a mix of browns, greys, and whites, suggesting wet sand and reflections.
step 06
Add small figures along the horizon line to create a sense of scale.
step 07
Refine the cloud shapes and rain effects with smaller brushes, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Add final highlights to the clouds and reflections to enhance the sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix various shades of grey by combining black and white, adding small amounts of umber or sienna to warm or cool the tones. Use thin washes for the sky and thicker paint for the foreground.

techniques