plate no. 9034

Rosbras, Brittany

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapeboatswaterfiguresbuildingsskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the boat, buildings, and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water.
step 03
Establish the values of the buildings and the boat, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the figures, using small, quick brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the details of the boat and the surrounding landscape.
step 06
Create reflections in the water using broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and ultramarine blue or viridian green. Create muted tones by adding small amounts of burnt umber to other colors.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and water.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, viridian green, cadmium yellow)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits