plate no. 3819
The Passage
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending colors to create atmospheric perspective and rendering realistic waves with highlights and shadows. It also offers practice in creating a focal point within a vast landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the animal.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, blending to create a gradient from light to dark.
- step 03
Establish the base color of the sea with dark blues and greens, varying the tones to suggest depth.
- step 04
Begin layering in the waves, using short, choppy brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Add highlights to the crests of the waves using lighter blues, greens, and touches of white.
- step 06
Paint the animal with a light color, paying attention to its form and the way it interacts with the waves.
- step 07
Refine the details of the sky and sea, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · payne's gray
secondary · viridian green · yellow ochre
Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky, gradually adding more blue towards the horizon. Use payne's gray to darken the blues and create shadows in the clouds and waves. Mix viridian green with blue and yellow ochre for the sea.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the waves, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the sea and sky.
- →Making the animal too prominent, distracting from the overall composition.
- →Not paying enough attention to the subtle variations in color and texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium can be added to the paints to improve flow and blending.
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