plate no. 0725
The Beothic at Bache Post, Ellesmere Island
A.Y. Jackson, 1928
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice simplified forms and color mixing with a limited palette. Students can learn to create depth and atmosphere using color temperature and value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the ship, icebergs, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, and land, using thinned paint.
- step 03
Establish the dark values of the ship and the shadows on the icebergs.
- step 04
Add the lighter values to the icebergs, creating form and dimension.
- step 05
Refine the shapes of the icebergs and add details to the ship.
- step 06
Create the illusion of depth by adjusting the color and value of the background elements.
- step 07
Add highlights to the water to suggest reflections.
- step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, paying attention to balance and harmony.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber
Achieve the warm tones by mixing burnt sienna and yellow ochre. Cool tones for the iceberg shadows can be created by adding small amounts of ultramarine blue to the browns. Use white to lighten values.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplified forms.
- →Using too much white and creating chalky colors.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·round brushes size 4 and 8
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for some visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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