plate no. 4181

View of Great Island

Edwin Dickinson, 1940

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapemarshskywatertrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating subtle value shifts to depict depth and distance. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork to capture the essence of a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and major landforms.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted blues and grays.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the marshland with varying shades of brown and ochre.
step 04
Add darker values to suggest shadows and depth in the foreground.
step 05
Introduce subtle blues and grays to represent water reflections.
step 06
Use broken brushstrokes to create texture in the marsh grasses and foliage.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create an atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix muted grays and blues by combining ultramarine blue, raw umber, and titanium white. Achieve earthy browns by blending raw umber, burnt sienna, and yellow ochre.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·tonal painting
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh or unnatural look.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and distance.
→Using colors that are too saturated, disrupting the muted palette.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·raw umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·round brushes
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·painting medium
·easel

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for expressive brushwork. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing and achieve a harmonious result.

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