The design for the painting is worked out on paper to full scale and then transferred to a piece of prepared linen using blue artists chalk pastel (pictured).
This is fixed so that it wont smudge when worked over.
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The upper part of the sky is laid in opaquely with oils, thinning down towards the horizon. This is allowed to dry.
Next the sky nearer the horizon and the 'glowing sun' effect is crafted by combinations of scumbling, glazing and opaque application.
The sea is roughed in with oils and the reflections are loosely indicated.
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The tender and superstructure of the rig are roughed in with thin oils.
Now the canvas is totally covered and all local colours are in place.
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The rig is built up tonally giving it 3 dimensional form.
The surface of the ocean is refined.
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All the intricasies of the superstructure are painted in and details of lights, hi-lights and reflections are added as the final touches.
The tender is carefully built up as a 3 dimensional structure then the details and character of the boat are loosely brushed into it.
The final touches are to the ocean, insuring the surface reflections and the hilights unify all the elements that are reflecting in them and hopefully creating the brooding quiet atmosphere that I set out to achieve.
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