plate no. 1393

Rocas en el Cabo San Antonio, Jávea

Rubén de Luis, 2020

canvas, oilImpressionismmarinarocksseaskycliffssailboatslandscape

suitable for beginners

This painting offers practice in layering colors to create depth and texture, particularly in the water and rocks. Students can also learn to simplify complex shapes into basic forms and capture the essence of a scene with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the rocks, cliffs, and horizon line with a light pencil.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and white.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the water, using varying shades of blue and hints of green.
step 04
Roughly block in the colors of the cliffs and rocks, focusing on the overall tones.
step 05
Add details to the rocks, using darker shades for shadows and lighter shades for highlights.
step 06
Develop the texture of the water with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Paint in the sailboats with small strokes of white and gray.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · viridian green · raw umber · cadmium yellow

Mix blues and greens for the water, adding white for highlights. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the rocks, adding white and umber for variations. Mix greens from yellow and blue for vegetation.

techniques