plate no. 9491
Estonian peasant
Eduard von Gebhardt, 1867
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering light and shadow on the face and clothing. It also provides practice in using visible brushstrokes to create texture and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, hair, clothing, and background.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending colors to create subtle variations in value.
- step 04
Add details to the face, paying attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Render the hair with loose, expressive brushstrokes, capturing the highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Define the clothing with broader brushstrokes, suggesting folds and textures.
- step 07
Add the signature in the bottom right corner.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to enhance the overall realism and mood.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · raw sienna
secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones primarily from white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and white for the clothing, adding small amounts of yellow ochre or raw sienna for warmth. The hair is a mix of burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white, with touches of black for shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Using too much paint, leading to a muddy effect.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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