plate no. 8672
Bob, King of the Fortune Isle
Jessie Willcox Smith, 1928
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures and animals with soft, blended colors, as well as creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through color and value variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the boy, monkey, and turtle.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, ocean, cliff, and figures.
- step 03
Begin refining the colors and values of the sky, blending the blues and yellows.
- step 04
Develop the form of the cliff using layers of yellow, brown, and gray.
- step 05
Paint the boy's clothing and skin tones, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
- step 06
Add details to the monkey and turtle, capturing their textures and forms.
- step 07
Refine the details of the faces and add highlights to create a sense of light.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.
color palette
primary · sky blue · yellow ochre · rose madder · raw umber
secondary · titanium white · burnt sienna · payne's gray
Mix various shades of blue and yellow for the sky. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix browns and grays for the cliff and animals.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·rendering form
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water
- ·Linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·Easel
- ·Apron
- ·Reference photo print
Use a canvas primed for oil or acrylic paints. Choose high-quality paints for best results.
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