plate no. 5182
Boy Holding a Ball
Bela Czobel, 1916
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified shapes and color blocking, as well as mixing skin tones and creating a sense of form with minimal blending. Students will also learn to capture a likeness with simplified features.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, chair, and background, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: background, skin tones, clothing, and ball.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones by adding subtle variations and highlights.
- step 04
Add the stripes on the clothing and the details of the ball.
- step 05
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add details to the chair and background.
- step 07
Refine the edges and add any final touches.
- step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · sap green
Mix skin tones by combining white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red or yellow. Use white to lighten the blue and sienna for background variations.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·simplified shapes
- ·limited blending
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Making the facial features too detailed.
- →Not simplifying the shapes enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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