plate no. 2275
Rough sea, Morestil
John Peter Russell, 1900
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing movement and texture with expressive brushstrokes, as well as mixing subtle color variations to depict water and atmospheric effects. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into essential shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the rocks and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the dark rocks, and the overall tone of the water.
- step 03
Start adding darker values to the rocks to create depth and form.
- step 04
Begin layering lighter blues and greens to represent the waves and the sea foam.
- step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the movement of the water.
- step 06
Add highlights to the crests of the waves with white and light blue.
- step 07
Refine the details of the rocks and the water, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · viridian green
secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Create various shades of blue by adding white or a touch of umber. Use crimson to create muted purples and grays for the sky and shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
- ·color layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to capture the movement and energy of the water.
- →Not paying attention to the overall value structure of the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color scheme.
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