plate no. 5482
Ships on the Merwede at Dordrecht
James Campbell Noble, 1900
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle color variations in a cloudy sky and reflective water. It will also help with layering techniques to create depth and texture.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: horizon line, buildings, boats, and dock.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light gray and blue tones, blending softly.
- step 03
Establish the water with horizontal strokes, reflecting the sky colors.
- step 04
Paint the distant buildings and boats with muted colors, focusing on their silhouettes.
- step 05
Add details to the boats and dock, using darker values to define their forms.
- step 06
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to the distortion.
- step 07
Add highlights to the sails and water to create a sense of light.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light
Mix grays by combining white, umber, and a touch of blue. Use yellow ochre and white for highlights on the clouds and water. Add a touch of red to umber for the darker tones in the boats and dock.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, making distant objects too sharp.
- →Not blending the sky and water colors sufficiently.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting.
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