plate no. 0729

The Golf Course, North Berwick

John Lavery, 1922

oilImpressionismlandscapeskycloudsfieldfiguresbeachcoastline

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose, expressive brushwork to capture the mood of a landscape. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into sky, land, and sea.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, adding hints of pink and white for clouds.
step 03
Establish the horizon line and distant landmasses with muted blues and purples.
step 04
Lay in the base color for the field using a mix of greens and yellows.
step 05
Add the beach area with sandy beige tones, blending into the sea.
step 06
Define the figures with simple strokes, focusing on their general shape and placement.
step 07
Refine the clouds and field with subtle color variations and brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create depth and interest.

color palette

primary · sky blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Mix sky tones by blending white with small amounts of blue and a touch of yellow or pink. Achieve the field color by mixing yellow ochre with green and a touch of burnt umber for shadows.

techniques