plate no. 7033

Ravine with Estuary (Bristol Channel and Suspension Bridge)

Alfred Wallis, 1938

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)landscaperavineestuarybridgewaterlandscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive image. It also encourages expressive brushwork and embracing imperfections.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the ravine, estuary, and bridge, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray-blue mixture.
step 03
Paint the dark green hillsides, varying the tone slightly to suggest depth.
step 04
Add the lighter green/gray of the water, allowing some of the underpainting to show through.
step 05
Paint the bridge structure with a thin, dark gray.
step 06
Add touches of yellow along the edges of the land and in the water to represent highlights.
step 07
Refine the shapes and add details with expressive brushstrokes.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry and add any final touches or corrections.

color palette

primary · gray-blue · dark green · light green/gray

secondary · yellow · dark gray · white

Mix the gray-blue sky color by combining white with a touch of blue and gray. The greens can be created by mixing blue, yellow, and a bit of black. Use white to lighten the values.

techniques

·blocking in
·expressive brushstrokes
·scumbling
·layering
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Trying to create too much detail.
→Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
→Not simplifying the shapes enough.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·Acrylic or oil paints (gray-blue, dark green, light green/gray, yellow, dark gray, white)
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
·Rags or paper towels