Child on a Garden Walk

surface prep

Prepare a wood panel with a traditional oil ground or a modern acrylic gesso if mimicking the smoothness of a panel. Chase worked on panels, which offer a non-absorbent, hard surface that allows for crisp edges and vibrant color reflection, distinct from the tooth of canvas. The surface should be sealed to prevent oil from rotting the wood.

underdrawing

Chase’s 'loosely brushed style' suggests he may have used minimal underdrawing, possibly sketching directly with thinned paint or charcoal. As a teacher who emphasized capturing light promptly, he likely avoided rigid linear outlines that would constrain the fluidity of the brushwork (Source 2, Source 7).

underpainting

Apply a thin, neutral underpainting (grisaille or imprimatura) to establish values. This helps in 'harmonizing those colours of a composition which are essentially inherent to the nature of the objects' (Source 1). Chase’s Impressionist approach likely involved working wet-into-wet or with thin glazes to capture light modifications rapidly.

Simultaneous Contrast

Using complementary colors adjacent to each other to enhance vibrancy and perceived intensity, as described by Chevreul’s laws which Chase would have known (Source 1).

Loose Brushwork

Applying paint with visible, energetic strokes to capture the fleeting effects of light, consistent with Chase’s Impressionist style (Source 2, Source 4).

Color Harmony

Balancing the colors in the composition to create a unified visual experience, ensuring that the 'colours of a composition which are essentially inherent to the nature of the objects' are harmonized (Source 1).