plate no. 0393
The Fish and the Moon
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, creating texture with visible brushstrokes, and understanding color relationships to create a mood.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes: the fish, the moon, and the horizon line.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of dark blue/green for the background.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the fish: white for the head, green/yellow for the body, and orange for the fins.
- step 04
Add layers of color to the moon, blending orange and green.
- step 05
Use thick brushstrokes to build texture on the fish, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Create the water effect with horizontal strokes of blues, greens, and browns.
- step 07
Add small details and highlights to the fish's eye and other features.
- step 08
Refine the edges and blend colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · viridian green
secondary · cadmium orange · burnt sienna · payne's gray
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Create muted tones by adding a touch of complementary color. Achieve the dark background by mixing blue, green, and a touch of brown.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, losing the texture.
- →Making the fish too realistic, instead of expressive.
- →Not using enough paint, resulting in a thin and weak painting.
- →Ignoring the color relationships between the fish and the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a variety of brush sizes and shapes to create different textures. Consider using a palette knife for applying thick layers of paint.
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