plate no. 9019
Barbecue
Eric Fischl, 1982
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in various poses and understanding how to represent reflections in water. It also provides practice in capturing the unique lighting and color palette of a sunny outdoor scene.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 16 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, pool, house, and table.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, water, grass, and table using thin washes.
- step 03
Begin defining the shapes of the figures, paying attention to their proportions and gestures.
- step 04
Add details to the house and surrounding foliage, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
- step 05
Develop the reflections in the pool, using broken brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
- step 06
Refine the details of the fish in the bowl, capturing their texture and form.
- step 07
Add the flame effect, using bright yellows, oranges, and reds.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · viridian green · cadmium red · titanium white
Mix various shades of blue and green for the pool water. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create the skin tones. Mix greens for the foliage and grass, adding white to lighten the values.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figures.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the reflections.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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