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home·artworks·Bad News
Bad News by Rodolfo Amoedo

plate no. 7292

Bad News

Rodolfo Amoedo, 1895

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresschairwindowbird
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure and background.

  2. step 02

    Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.

  3. step 03

    Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.

  4. step 04

    Develop the details of the dress, focusing on the stripes and fabric folds.

  5. step 05

    Add the details of the chair and the background, including the window scene.

  6. step 06

    Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.

  7. step 07

    Add the final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

  8. step 08

    Glaze to unify the painting and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray by combining ivory black and titanium white. Use burnt umber and cadmium red for the skin tones, and add yellow ochre for warmth. Mix viridian and ultramarine blue for the greens in the background.

techniques

  • ·portraiture
  • ·fabric rendering
  • ·glazing
  • ·value studies
  • ·blending

common pitfalls

  • →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
  • →Overworking the details too early in the process.
  • →Failing to capture the subtle shifts in color and value.
  • →Making the skin tones look flat and lifeless.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas 18x24
  • ·ivory black oil paint
  • ·titanium white oil paint
  • ·burnt umber oil paint
  • ·cadmium red oil paint
  • ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
  • ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
  • ·palette

optional

  • ·palette knife
  • ·linseed oil
  • ·turpentine

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium such as linseed oil can be used to thin the paints and improve flow.

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oil painting for beginners →how to learn by studying the masters →
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