plate no. 6766

Squall, Greenland

Rockwell Kent, 1937

oilAmerican Realismlandscapemountainswatersailboatskycloudslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and form, as well as simplifying complex shapes into basic geometric forms. Students will also learn to represent water and reflections with simplified brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, water line, and clouds with light pencil strokes.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of light blue, blending towards the horizon.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the mountains, using darker blues and browns for shadows and lighter browns and reds for highlights.
step 04
Paint the water with a base of dark blue-green, adding small white highlights to represent waves and reflections.
step 05
Add the sailboat, paying attention to its simplified shape and the reflection in the water.
step 06
Refine the shapes and values of the mountains, adding more detail to the rock formations.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values of the water to create a sense of depth and movement.
step 08
Add final details to the clouds, softening the edges and adding subtle variations in color.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · viridian green

Mix blues and browns for the mountain shadows. Use white to lighten the sky and water. Mix small amounts of red and yellow into the mountain colors to create warmer highlights.

techniques