plate no. 6591

The Port of Middelburg

oilBaroquemarinashipswaterfigurescityscapeskyflags

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, rendering complex scenes with many figures, and creating depth through layering and detail reduction.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the major shapes: sky, water, land masses, and the largest ships.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the cityscape in the background.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the sky, water, and land, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Start adding details to the ships, beginning with the largest one in the center. Pay attention to the rigging and sails.
step 05
Populate the foreground with figures, gradually adding more detail to those closer to the viewer.
step 06
Refine the cityscape in the background, simplifying details as they recede into the distance.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension throughout the painting.
step 08
Finish with small details like flags, birds, and reflections in the water.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

Mix muted blues and grays for the sky and water by combining ultramarine blue, raw umber, and white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the land and buildings, adjusting the values with white and black.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·scumbling
·rendering small figures
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Making the colors too saturated.
→Not simplifying details in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black, titanium white)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags