plate no. 9231

The Waves at San Sebastian

Joaquín Sorolla, 1915

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapeseawavesfiguresboatsskycoastline

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing movement and texture with loose brushstrokes, as well as understanding color relationships in depicting water and light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, figures, boats, and the pier.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, sea, landmasses, and the pier.
step 03
Start defining the wave forms with broad, directional brushstrokes, using varying shades of green, blue, and white.
step 04
Add details to the figures, focusing on simple shapes and color variations to suggest form.
step 05
Paint the boats in the background, paying attention to their shapes and how they recede into the distance.
step 06
Refine the details of the pier, including the railings and the texture of the wood.
step 07
Add highlights to the waves and other areas to create a sense of light and movement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and dynamic composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Achieve the neutral tones for the figures by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of other colors.

techniques

·Broken color
·Impasto
·Wet-on-wet blending
·Directional brushstrokes
·Scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the movement and energy of the waves.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the water and sky.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, viridian green, burnt umber)
·Round brushes (#4, #6, #8)
·Flat brushes (#6, #10)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil