plate no. 8945

Shipping in Rough Waters

oilRomanticismmarinashipsoceanwavesskycloudssunset

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex water surfaces with light and shadow. Students will also learn to depict the intricate details of sailing ships.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the ships, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes, establishing the warm sunset colors and the shapes of the clouds.
step 03
Roughly define the ocean surface with varying shades of green and blue, indicating the direction of the waves.
step 04
Add details to the ships, including the masts, sails, and rigging, using thin brushes and darker tones.
step 05
Refine the waves by adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of movement and depth.
step 06
Blend the colors in the sky and water to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 07
Add final details, such as the flags on the ships and the reflections in the water.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the luminosity.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · viridian

Achieve the sunset hues by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, and burnt sienna. Create the ocean colors by blending ultramarine blue, viridian, and raw umber. Use titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·rendering waves

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the ships too early in the process.
→Creating a flat, lifeless ocean surface.
→Failing to capture the atmospheric perspective in the sky.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a harsh, unrealistic effect.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow, viridian)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags