plate no. 7071
View of a Port
Raoul Dufy, 1902
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing loose brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Students will learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the tree, lighthouse, and ships.
- step 02
Block in the sky and water with broad strokes of color.
- step 03
Add the dark values of the tree trunk and branches.
- step 04
Paint the distant land and ships, using lighter values and less detail.
- step 05
Layer in the greens of the foreground vegetation, using varied brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Add highlights to the water and vegetation to create a sense of light.
- step 07
Refine the details of the lighthouse and ships.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to balance the composition.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Use burnt umber to darken colors and create shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much dark color in the foreground, flattening the depth.
- →Failing to vary the brushstrokes, resulting in a monotonous texture.
- →Not simplifying the distant elements enough, making them too distracting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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