plate no. 8394

The Kennebec River, Waiting for Wind and Tide

oilRomanticismmarinashipswaterskycloudssailsreflection

some experience helpful

This painting provides a good opportunity to practice rendering reflections in water and creating atmospheric perspective in the sky. Students can also develop their skills in depicting complex shapes like ships and rigging.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the ships, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and purples, blending the colors softly to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 03
Add the clouds, using white and light gray, and blend the edges to create soft, fluffy forms.
step 04
Paint the water with a base of light blue and gray, then add reflections of the ships and sky, using slightly darker values.
step 05
Begin detailing the ships, starting with the hulls and then adding the masts, rigging, and sails.
step 06
Use thin washes of color to create the details of the rigging and sails, and add highlights to the sails to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to the way the light interacts with the surface.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the ships and sky to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding a touch of purple or gray for atmospheric perspective. Use raw umber and burnt sienna for the ships, and mix white with small amounts of other colors for the sails.

techniques