Studying the skies of Sir Alfred East

Alfred East (1844 -1913)

Self Portrait by Sir Alfred East

Sir Alfred East was an English landscape painter from Kettering in Northamptonshire. He studied at Glasgow School of Art, his work displays influences from the Barbizon school of painting, He traveled to Spain and Japan, the latter of which he spent 6 months in painting landscapes and people of the country.

He had several exhibitions and presented regularly at the Royal academy where he was elected associate in 1899 then full member in 1913. In 1906 he was elected president of the Royal Society of British Artists, a position he held until his death.

"Gold" by Sir Alfred East

Also in the year 1906, he published “ The Art of Landscape Painting In Oil Colour”, in which he details many of his techniques for painting landscapes.


In this particular case study, I applied his techniques in color for use in painting a series of skies.


Top example is a study of the sky in setting sun, after East's painting entitled “Gold”.

Middle example is a near monochromatic study of a cloudy sky.

Bottom example is a study of the sky at twilight.

He explains how to use the various color combinations to different effects, for varying distances.


In the twilight sky study I used the a mix of Umber to dull down the far horizon. As the last rays of light from beyond the curvature of the earth no longer illuminate the far distance as strongly, but illuminate clouds higher in the sky but closer to the eye.

Colors in studies


In addition, East's advice is to paint in “X” shape brush strokes to blend the clouds and sky. I detailed the pattern and approximate size of stroke used at each point to created the desired effect.


Direction and size of strokes



I used a smaller brush for smaller details, or the point of a flat for longer finer stroke and a regular flat stroke could accomplish. All where painted with flats and round brushes.

The Art of Landscape Painting can also be found today in the public domain and LibriVox recording.

The Art of Landscape Painting in Oil Colour by Sir Alfred East


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