The painting ‘Calm Sea’ is made in a range of dark blue and light blue tones. On the horizon, the sea is smoothly connecting with the sky. Ivan Aivazovsky achieved this effect by glazing — the use of paints diluted with a large amount of solvent, so that color is deep and complex. With glazing, he managed to paint various lighting effects on the water and transmit its mixed color. A term ‘Aivazovsky’s wave’ appeared in the history of art — translucent foaming wave which is often met in his paintings and which he created by glazing.
You can often find a motive of an open water space flooded with sunlight in Aivazovsky’s small paintings. In principle, the artist hardly painted from life, considering, force of nature is impossible to depict due to its constant changes.
Aivazovsky spoke about his own creative method:
You can often find a motive of an open water space flooded with sunlight in Aivazovsky’s small paintings. In principle, the artist hardly painted from life, considering, force of nature is impossible to depict due to its constant changes.
Aivazovsky spoke about his own creative method: