plate no. 0149
An Exile of the '45
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures and animals, and in creating atmospheric perspective to depict depth. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations to capture realistic skin tones and fabric textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure, dogs, and landscape.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
- step 03
Develop the background, focusing on the atmospheric perspective and subtle color variations in the sky and coastline.
- step 04
Refine the figure, paying attention to the details of the clothing and facial features.
- step 05
Add details to the dogs, capturing their anatomy and fur texture.
- step 06
Work on the grass and foreground, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Glaze layers of color to adjust values and create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Mix browns and grays by combining umber, sienna, black, and white. Use small amounts of blue and red to adjust the temperature of the browns. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering fur
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure or dogs.
- →Overly harsh or unrealistic colors.
- →Lack of depth in the background.
- →Insufficient attention to detail in the clothing and fur.
- →Muddy or overworked colors.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
- ·flat brushes (#6, #8)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium alkyd
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
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