plate no. 0900

The sailing ship ‚Johanna‘ and other vessels in Sundet off Kronborg Castle

oilRomanticismmarinashipsseaskycloudswatersails

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 will also improve their ability to paint convincing sailing ships.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the ships and clouds.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, gradually darkening towards the top.
step 03
Establish the base color of the sea, mixing greens and blues.
step 04
Add the darker values in the troughs of the waves and lighter values on the crests.
step 05
Paint the ships, starting with the hulls and then adding the masts and sails.
step 06
Add details to the ships, such as rigging and figures.
step 07
Refine the clouds, blending the edges and adding highlights.
step 08
Add final details, such as reflections in the water and highlights on the waves.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · viridian green · payne's gray

Mix blues and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre near the horizon. Use varying amounts of green, blue, and umber to create the different shades of the sea. Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the ship hulls.

techniques