Boat Lesson

Today's lesson at my workshop was on boats.  First I gave advice on how to draw lobster boats and sailboats.  Then I did some value studies and the demo painting on location.

Contrast of values was key to the painting.  Note:  Reflections are often darker than the object above it.  Gradation of value was important to making the water recede.  The foreground water is usually darker and warmer than the water out on the horizon.  That's because you are looking down at the ground at the bottom of the water in the foreground.  The farther away from the viewer, you are only looking at the surface of the water.

The dark foliage on the island behind the boats helped the lighter shapes on the boats "pop".  Vertical objects receive less light than objects or planes that are horizontal than vertical planes.

Sizes vary.  The focal boat is the "papa", the sailboat is the "mama", and the far sailboat on the left is the "baby".