plate no. 9121

The Great Blasket Islands

Paul Henry, 1937

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapemountainscloudssearockslandscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow in a muted color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, clouds, and shoreline.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light gray, leaving some areas lighter for highlights.
step 03
Establish the mountain masses with darker grays, paying attention to their relative values.
step 04
Paint the sea with horizontal strokes, varying the gray tones to suggest depth and movement.
step 05
Add the rocks in the foreground, using darker values and short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Layer in the cloud formations, building up the shapes with lighter and darker grays.
step 07
Refine the details of the mountains and shoreline, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · payne's gray · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, Payne's gray, and a touch of raw umber. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or viridian to create subtle color variations in the sky, mountains, and sea.

techniques