The above picture is from a previous post and shows the second stage finished, the first being drawing up (the dark lines that can be seen). This stage is just the under lying wash, usually thin so that it'll dry quicker...
Next to be painted was the background, sky, sea and some of the sandy beach painted. Starting with the sky, as this establishes the light for the painting and gives the viewer an idea of what time of day while the rest of the sky establishes what type of day.
Following the sky, was the painting of the chalk cliff. I began with the grass covered top, working dark to light before moving onto the chalk areas. There's lots of minor colour changes within the chalk contrasting with the darker patches.
Where these boats are is in a small bay and on this day there wasn't much in the way of waves, so the sea surface was picking some reflected cloud colour and to add interest some nice shadows from the cliffs. Mostly the sea was painted in lines, to show the form of the waves and in a number of colours depending on area being painted.
Now onto the boats...
Detail from "Late Afternoon - North Landing", North Landing, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021330
The above picture shows the finished painting, having completed the two boats. I find these wooden boats (two shown in this painting but there are a few more sometimes on the same slipway) rather interesting, not forgetting the location but the colours and shape are very attractive. Designed many years ago for work on the rough North Sea, landing on beach although these have had bits added to them over the years for their new job of taking people to see the birds along the cliffs at Bempton - an RSPB reserve just up the coast to the left of the painting. The cliffs run from Flamborough Head north towards Filey (about 10 km) and are over 100 metres (330 ft) high at points.
If you are new to painting boats it's worth breaking them down into smaller sections (once the main shape has been established) and then try working on that bit rather than trying to do it all. For example, work on just the internal parts, then any rigging/masts, maybe just one side etc. The two shown above are more complicated than most, being wooden they have additional pattern due to the wood, plus these have had additonal coloured lines painted along there sides which makes them more interesting but additional more work to paint and detail to get correct.
