plate no. 2813

Red Sea

oilImpressionismmarinaseaskysunsetcloudswatersun

suitable for beginners

This painting is excellent for learning color mixing and creating subtle gradations in the sky and water. Students will also practice simplifying a complex scene into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the position of the sun.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes, starting with the lightest tones and gradually adding darker shades.
step 03
Mix the pink and orange hues for the sunset and apply them in horizontal bands.
step 04
Paint the water using a similar approach, blending blues and greens to create depth.
step 05
Add the reflection of the sun on the water with vertical strokes of yellow and orange.
step 06
Introduce subtle variations in the clouds using light gray and lavender tones.
step 07
Refine the details and blend the transitions between colors.
step 08
Add final touches to the sun and its reflection.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · cadmium red · cadmium yellow

secondary · violet · raw umber

Achieve the sky colors by mixing white with small amounts of blue, red, and yellow. The water is a combination of blue, white, and a touch of green. The sunset hues are created by blending red, yellow, and white.

techniques