plate no. 3431

Boy and the Candle

Gerard Sekoto, 1943

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigurecandlelightportraitstill lifehand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting light and shadow, as well as mixing skin tones and creating a sense of mood through color and brushwork. It also provides practice in capturing the human form and rendering a still life arrangement.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, candle, and other elements.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the darkest shadows and gradually working towards the highlights.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and details of the figure and candle, paying attention to the way the light falls on them.
step 05
Mix and apply skin tones, using a variety of warm and cool colors to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Add details to the candle and the flame, capturing the glow and flickering light.
step 07
Refine the background and surrounding areas, ensuring they complement the main subject.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism and drama.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth. Create the candle's glow by mixing yellow and white, and use ultramarine blue and white for the cooler areas.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·scumbling
·color mixing
·layering
·blending

common pitfalls

→Over-blending, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Incorrectly judging values, leading to a lack of contrast.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Losing the overall composition by focusing too much on details too early.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags