plate no. 6812
Schooner Approaching a Harbour
Alfred Wallis, 1930
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing simplified forms and creating a sense of depth with limited color variations. Students can learn to capture the essence of a scene without intricate details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the harbor, boats, and lighthouse, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky/sea, the land, and the sails.
- step 03
Add darker tones to define the shapes of the boats and buildings.
- step 04
Introduce lighter tones to suggest highlights and create a sense of depth in the water.
- step 05
Refine the shapes of the boats and buildings, adding simple details like masts and windows.
- step 06
Add the red color to the sails.
- step 07
Create texture in the water and sky with visible brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add the border around the painting.
color palette
primary · gray · black · white · red
secondary · dark blue · brown
Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white. Use a touch of blue to create cooler grays for the water. The red is a relatively pure hue.
techniques
- ·simplified shapes
- ·limited palette
- ·visible brushstrokes
- ·layering
- ·color blocking
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details
- →making colors too saturated
- →losing the simplified, naive style
- →not creating enough contrast
materials
surface · canvas board
required
- ·acrylic paints
- ·canvas board
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·medium (for acrylics)
Use inexpensive acrylic paints for this project. A variety of brush sizes will be helpful for creating different textures.
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