plate no. 6271
Artist's children in garden
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing light and shadow with color. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and background.
- step 03
Establish the main values of the foliage and figures.
- step 04
Add details to the building and the pergola structure.
- step 05
Refine the colors and values in the foreground.
- step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and interest.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to define the forms.
- step 08
Step back and adjust the overall balance of the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · purple
Mix various shades of red and orange for the foliage. Use blue and white for the sky and building. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much detail
- →Not establishing a clear value structure
- →Creating muddy colors
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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