plate no. 9388

The old ship, Williamstown

Frederick McCubbin, 1915

oilImpressionismmarinaboatswaterbuildingsdocksskyindustrial

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the texture of aged structures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting reflections in water and suggesting detail rather than rendering it precisely.

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: the boats, buildings, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the sky, water, and land, using thin washes.
step 03
Build up the texture of the buildings and boats with thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the boats and buildings, focusing on suggesting rather than precisely rendering.
step 05
Create the reflections in the water by mirroring the colors and shapes above, using horizontal strokes.
step 06
Refine the sky with subtle color variations to create depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of light.
step 08
Soften edges and blend colors where needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

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

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with raw umber and white. Use small amounts of blue to create the sky and water, and yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the buildings and boats.

techniques