plate no. 9941
At the Garage
Jeffrey Smart, 1959
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict light and shadow on different surfaces and how to create a sense of depth with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in rendering a human figure with simple shapes and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of the figure, shadow, tire, and box.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the wall, the ground, the sky, and the figure's suit.
- step 03
Add the shadow of the figure, blending the edges to create a soft transition.
- step 04
Develop the texture of the wall with short, broken brushstrokes, using a variety of light and warm tones.
- step 05
Refine the details of the figure, including the face, bow tie, and shoes.
- step 06
Paint the tire and box, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Add the architectural details in the background.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and balanced painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and white for the wall and ground. Use cadmium red light for the box. Mix cerulean blue and white for the sky. Add yellow ochre to raw umber for the figure's suit.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original painting.
- →Failing to create a convincing sense of light and shadow.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy or chaotic effect.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figure and other objects.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a smooth texture to better replicate the original painting's surface. Consider using a medium to thin the oil paints and improve their flow.
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