plate no. 9276

Waterfront Scene Gloucester

John Henry Twachtman, 1901

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapebuildingswaterreflectioncityscapedocks

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections in water and simplifying complex scenes into impressionistic brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing muted and atmospheric colors.

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 of the buildings and the waterline.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light grey and white.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the water and reflections with dark blues and browns.
step 04
Begin adding the colors of the buildings, focusing on the overall color harmony rather than precise details.
step 05
Use broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the buildings and docks.
step 06
Add highlights to the water and buildings to create a sense of light.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to their distortion and color.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · cadmium red light

Mix muted tones by combining complementary colors. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric effects. Achieve the water's color by mixing blues, greens, and browns.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Making the reflections too literal and symmetrical.
→Using colors that are too bright and saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle value shifts that create depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, viridian green, cadmium red light)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags