plate no. 3137
Ambassadors of hunger
Pellizza da Volpedo, 1892
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and using a limited palette to create a cohesive and atmospheric scene. Students will also practice creating depth through subtle value changes and loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and the basic shapes of the buildings and landscape.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Develop the figures, paying attention to their proportions and gestures.
- step 04
Add details to the buildings and landscape, using loose brushstrokes.
- step 05
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Adjust the colors and values to create a harmonious composition.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figures and background.
- step 08
Let dry and add a varnish.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
Mix raw umber and white for the lighter areas of the figures and buildings. Add yellow ochre to the mix for warmer tones. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadows and create atmospheric perspective.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Using too many colors and creating a disjointed composition.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions and gestures of the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, 6
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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