plate no. 6175
The Iceberg
Frederic Edwin Church, 1891
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending subtle color transitions and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering realistic water and ice textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the iceberg, ship, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient of warm colors, blending smoothly.
- step 03
Establish the dark tones of the ocean, paying attention to the wave patterns.
- step 04
Begin layering the iceberg with shades of white, gray, and blue to define its form.
- step 05
Paint the ship, focusing on its basic structure and sail shapes.
- step 06
Add highlights to the iceberg and waves to create a sense of light and depth.
- step 07
Refine the details of the ship and add subtle reflections in the water.
- step 08
Add final touches to the sky and blend any harsh edges.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black
Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber for the iceberg shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the sky, and ultramarine blue with black for the ocean.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering reflections
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the sky, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Making the iceberg too uniformly white, losing its form.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the water.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve blending and drying time.
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