plate no. 4347

The Fisherman’s Farewell

Christopher Wood, 1928

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfiguresboatsharborbuildingsskywater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified form representation and expressive brushwork. It also provides practice in mixing muted color palettes and creating a sense of depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background (sky, water, buildings).
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones of the figures using a light, neutral color.
step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows and contours of the figures and objects.
step 05
Develop the details of the boats and buildings using short, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the facial features of the figures, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Add highlights to create a sense of form and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use raw umber and white for the skin tones, and mix ultramarine blue with burnt sienna for the darker areas.

techniques