plate no. 4370
Sea Scene
John Henry Twachtman, 1893
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in broken color techniques and capturing dynamic movement with expressive brushstrokes. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into essential shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the mountain, and the placement of the main rock formations.
- step 02
Establish the sky and distant sea with thin washes of color, blending the tones softly.
- step 03
Block in the dark values of the mountain and rocks, using a mix of browns and greens.
- step 04
Begin building up the waves with layers of broken color, using blues, greens, and whites.
- step 05
Add highlights to the crests of the waves with thick, impasto strokes of white paint.
- step 06
Refine the details of the rocks, adding texture and variation with dry brush techniques.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to capture the movement of the water.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber
secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · cadmium yellow
Mix blues and whites for the water, adding touches of green and yellow for variation. Use burnt umber and white to create the neutral tones of the sky and rocks. Mix greens from blue and yellow.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-wet blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to capture the movement of the water.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·mineral spirits
- ·oil paints
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
