plate no. 7440

The building of the SS 'Great Eastern'

oilRomanticismmarinaboatswatershipyardfiguresskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in depicting complex scenes with many small details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the large ship, the boats, and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the basic color washes for the sky and water, focusing on the overall tone.
step 03
Add the large ship's structure, using a light wash of pinkish-brown and defining the scaffolding.
step 04
Paint the boats, starting with the larger ones in the foreground and working back.
step 05
Add details to the boats, including sails, rigging, and figures.
step 06
Create reflections in the water, mirroring the shapes and colors of the boats and ship.
step 07
Add final details, such as the small figures on the ship and the birds in the sky.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix raw umber and white for the water and sky. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the boats and sails. Add a touch of cerulean blue to the sky for a cool tone.

techniques