plate no. 9078

Venice - Boats on the Dogana

Oskar Kokoschka, 1924

oilExpressionismcityscapeboatswatercityscapeskybuildingsharbor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose, expressive brushwork and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to achieve atmospheric effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition: horizon line, major buildings, and boat placements.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blues and whites, allowing for some visible brushwork.
step 03
Establish the water mass using a mix of blues, greens, and browns, varying the tones to suggest depth and movement.
step 04
Define the distant buildings with simplified shapes and muted colors, focusing on their overall form.
step 05
Add the boats, using darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights, keeping the details minimal.
step 06
Introduce small highlights and reflections on the water surface to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the sky and water transitions, softening some edges and adding subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final details to the boats and buildings, focusing on key features that define their character.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · viridian green

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Create the water by blending blues, greens, and browns, varying the proportions to achieve different shades. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the buildings, mixed with raw umber for shadows.

techniques