plate no. 7612

The Bathing Hour

William James Glackens, 1910

oilImpressionismgenre paintingwaterfiguresbuildingslandscapebeachboats

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in broken color techniques and capturing light and atmosphere through short, distinct brushstrokes. It also encourages observation of color variations in water and reflections.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of buildings, figures, and the waterline.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color (sky, water, land, buildings) with thin washes.
step 03
Begin applying short, broken brushstrokes of color to build up texture and form, starting with the water.
step 04
Focus on capturing the light and shadow on the buildings and figures.
step 05
Add details to the figures and boats, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the relationships between different areas of the painting.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium yellow

secondary · burnt sienna · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Mix blues and whites for the water, adding small amounts of yellow and red for variations. Use yellow ochre and white for the sand, and mix greens from blue and yellow for the grass.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Using brushstrokes that are too large or uniform.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the water and sky.
→Losing the overall sense of light and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, viridian green, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·assorted brushes (small round, small flat)
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags