plate no. 5663

Dinner

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfiguresfamilytablebottleindoormeal

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning how to suggest form with loose brushstrokes and limited color palette. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and objects using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the overall dark background tone with a thin wash of dark green/brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figures, table, and bottle, focusing on value rather than precise hues.
step 04
Start building up layers of paint, using visible brushstrokes to define form and texture.
step 05
Pay attention to the light source and how it affects the highlights and shadows on the figures.
step 06
Mix and apply subtle color variations to create depth and interest.
step 07
Add details to the faces and hands, but avoid overworking them.
step 08
Refine the edges and blend areas where necessary to create a cohesive image.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · ultramarine blue

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for skin tones, adding white for highlights and red for warmth. Use viridian green and ultramarine blue to create the bottle color, adjusting the ratio for different shades.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color temperature
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Making the skin tones too uniform and flat.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green, ultramarine blue
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags