plate no. 8235

Woman by the Sea

oil, canvasSymbolismgenre paintingfiguresealandscapedunesskyclouds

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in rendering atmospheric perspective and capturing a sense of mood through color and brushwork. Students can develop skills in figure painting and landscape painting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, horizon line, and major landforms.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes, establishing the overall color and value.
step 03
Establish the colors of the sea and land, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 04
Roughly paint the figure, focusing on the overall form and proportions.
step 05
Add details to the figure, refining the drapery and facial features.
step 06
Paint the bushes and other vegetation, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting colors and values as needed.

color palette

primary · gray · ochre · white · blue

secondary · yellow · brown · green

Mix grays by combining white with small amounts of blue, brown, and yellow. Achieve the dune colors by mixing ochre with white and small amounts of brown and green. The sky is a combination of grays, yellows and blues.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·limited palette
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Creating too much contrast and making the painting look harsh.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and tone.
→Incorrect proportions of the figure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas
·Oil paints (gray, ochre, white, blue, yellow, brown, green)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil

optional

·Painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
·Easel
·Apron

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for the dry brushing and scumbling techniques. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.

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