plate no. 6881
Waves
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, creating depth through color variation, and capturing the movement of water with expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into sky, horizon, and sea.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light gray and white, blending the colors softly.
- step 03
Establish the dark green base for the sea, varying the hue and value slightly.
- step 04
Add highlights to the waves using lighter greens and whites, following the direction of the wave movement.
- step 05
Create the foam and splashes with quick, broken strokes of white paint.
- step 06
Refine the details of the waves and sky, adding subtle color variations.
- step 07
Soften edges where needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to emphasize the movement of the water.
color palette
primary · viridian green · titanium white · payne's gray
secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber
Mix viridian green with payne's gray for the deep sea color. Use white to lighten the greens for highlights. Add a touch of yellow ochre to warm up the greens in certain areas.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·wet-on-dry
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Making the colors too uniform and lacking depth.
- →Failing to capture the movement of the water.
- →Creating too much contrast and making the scene look harsh.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g. Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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