plate no. 2842

Storm at Whitby, North Yorkshire

oilRealismmarinaseaboatswavesskylighthousebuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering realistic waves with light and shadow. It also provides practice in painting details such as ships and buildings in a seascape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, major landforms, and the placement of the boats and lighthouse.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted blues and grays, blending the colors to create soft clouds.
step 03
Block in the distant landmass with earth tones, paying attention to the subtle color variations and atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Begin layering the sea, starting with darker greens and blues in the troughs of the waves and lighter tones on the crests.
step 05
Paint the boats, focusing on the shapes of the sails and the details of the hulls.
step 06
Add the lighthouse and other architectural elements, paying attention to their structure and the way light reflects off their surfaces.
step 07
Refine the details of the waves, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of movement and depth.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the seagulls and the small details on the boats and buildings.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Burnt umber · Titanium white

secondary · Yellow ochre · Cadmium red light · Payne's gray

Mix various shades of green for the sea by combining Prussian blue and yellow ochre. Use burnt umber and white to create the earth tones for the landmass. Add a touch of cadmium red to the burnt umber for the sails.

techniques

·Layering
·Blending
·Dry brushing
·Scumbling
·Glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the waves, resulting in a flat or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and distance through atmospheric perspective.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the overall mood of the painting.
→Neglecting the small details that add realism and interest to the composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Burnt umber, Titanium white, Yellow ochre, Cadmium red light, Payne's gray)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags