plate no. 8649
Children
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing loose brushwork and capturing likenesses with simplified forms. It also provides an opportunity to study color mixing for skin tones and creating a sense of atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and table.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes.
- step 03
Start building up the skin tones, focusing on highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Add details to the clothing and facial features.
- step 05
Refine the background and table, paying attention to color relationships.
- step 06
Add final highlights and details to create depth and interest.
- step 07
Check proportions and adjust as needed.
- step 08
Add the artist's signature.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · viridian
Mix skin tones by blending burnt umber, white, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Mix greens with blue and yellow.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·blocking in
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Using too much detail and making the painting look stiff.
- →Not paying attention to color relationships and creating a muddy effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#2 filbert brush
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·apron
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color scheme.
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