plate no. 4124
Autumn Gold
Tetyana Yablonska, 1994
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create depth and texture, and in observing subtle color variations within a limited palette. It also provides practice in depicting light and shadow to define forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the easel, canvas, and figure.
- step 02
Establish the overall warm color scheme with a thin wash of burnt umber or yellow ochre.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes and values, paying attention to the light source and shadows.
- step 04
Begin layering paint, using thicker strokes to create texture and depth.
- step 05
Mix and apply subtle color variations to the canvas, easel, and figure.
- step 06
Refine the details of the artist's hand and the brush.
- step 07
Add highlights to capture the light reflecting off the surfaces.
- step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, values, and colors.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · raw sienna · sap green · black
Achieve the warm, golden tones by mixing yellow ochre with burnt umber and white. Use small amounts of sap green and black to create shadows and darker areas.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations within the shadows and highlights.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the texture of the brushstrokes. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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