Sandown Bay, from near Shanklin Chine, Isle of Wight

approach — 8 steps

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · payne's gray · cadmium yellow light

Mix blues and umbers with white for the sky and sea. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the beach and cliffs. Add a touch of Payne's gray to darken colors and create shadows.

techniques

• ·atmospheric perspective
• ·glazing
• ·soft blending
• ·scumbling
• ·layering

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the details in the distance, which can flatten the image.
• →Using too much bright color, which can make the painting look unrealistic.
• →Failing to establish a clear light source, which can create confusion.
• →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and sea.