plate no. 8208

The 2nd Day of the Creation

M.C. Escher, 1925

oilSurrealismreligious paintingoceanwavescloudsrainhorizonsky

experienced study

Recreating this artwork will develop skills in line drawing, creating texture with hatching and stippling, and understanding perspective to create depth in a landscape. It also encourages careful observation of wave patterns and cloud formations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the waves and clouds.
step 02
Divide the composition into foreground, middle ground, and background.
step 03
Begin adding the wave patterns in the foreground, using curved lines to suggest the form of the waves.
step 04
Gradually reduce the size and detail of the waves as they recede into the distance to create perspective.
step 05
Add the rain using vertical lines, varying the thickness and spacing to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Use stippling and hatching to create the texture and shading of the clouds.
step 07
Add small white dots to the crests of the waves to simulate foam.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary ·

This artwork is monochromatic, so no color mixing is required. Focus on achieving different shades of gray through varying the density of lines and dots.

techniques