plate no. 2381
Two Girls on the Beach, Tynemouth
Winslow Homer, 1891
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes, creating atmospheric perspective, and rendering figures in a landscape setting. It also provides practice in capturing reflections in water.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main elements: figures, shoreline, boats, and sky.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a light, diluted wash of gray and blue, allowing for variations in tone.
- step 03
Apply a base wash for the sand, mixing ochre and burnt sienna, and let it dry.
- step 04
Paint the figures with diluted blues, browns, and reds, paying attention to the folds of the clothing.
- step 05
Add the boats and background details using darker values of the same colors, suggesting form and depth.
- step 06
Create the reflections in the water using slightly darker and blurred versions of the objects above.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figures and boats to enhance realism.
- step 08
Soften edges and blend colors as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light · payne's gray
Mix blues and browns for the figures' clothing. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the sand. Create grays by mixing complementary colors.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·wet-on-dry layering
- ·dry brush texture
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much water, leading to uncontrolled blooms
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb cold press
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·masking tape
- ·sketching pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·gouache (for highlights)
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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