plate no. 2426
Sunset
Félix Vallotton, 1913
some experience helpful
Students would develop skills in warm color harmony, atmospheric perspective, and creating luminous effects with simplified forms and smooth color transitions.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the simple horizon line dividing sky and water
- step 02
Block in the large sky area with graduated warm tones from orange to deep purple
- step 03
Paint the sun as a bright orange circle, keeping edges soft
- step 04
Add the water with horizontal brushstrokes, varying warm and cool tones
- step 05
Paint the vertical sun reflection with downward strokes
- step 06
Add the dark rocky shoreline silhouettes with simple shapes
- step 07
Refine color transitions and soften edges where sky meets water
- step 08
Add final details to rocks and adjust overall color harmony
color palette
primary · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · raw umber
secondary · cadmium yellow light · dioxazine purple · titanium white · burnt sienna
Mix warm purples by combining alizarin crimson with ultramarine blue, and create orange variations by mixing cadmium orange with yellow and red
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·horizontal brush strokes
- ·color gradation
- ·silhouette painting
- ·reflection techniques
common pitfalls
- →Making the sun too harsh or hard-edged
- →Overworking the smooth color transitions
- →Making the water reflection too detailed
- →Using too many colors and losing harmony
materials
surface · primed canvas or canvas board
required
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·#4 flat brush
- ·#2 round brush
- ·cadmium orange oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·canvas 16x12
optional
- ·palette knife for mixing
- ·painting medium
- ·#10 flat brush
Work wet-into-wet for smooth transitions, keep paint consistency creamy but not too thick
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
