plate no. 7849
Factories
Fernand Leger, 1918
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand geometric abstraction and color relationships. It also provides practice in creating smooth gradients and hard-edged shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes and their placement on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color with flat, even tones.
- step 03
Start adding gradients and shading to create depth and form within the shapes.
- step 04
Define the edges of the shapes with clean, crisp lines.
- step 05
Add details like the checkered pattern and striped sections.
- step 06
Refine the color mixing to match the original painting's hues.
- step 07
Check the overall balance and composition, making adjustments as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality.
color palette
primary · red · yellow · blue · white
secondary · green · black · gray · purple
Mix grays by combining black and white, and greens by mixing blues and yellows. Pay attention to the subtle variations in tone by adding small amounts of complementary colors.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·hard-edge painting
common pitfalls
- →uneven color application
- →muddy color mixing
- →inaccurate shape proportions
- →lack of clean edges
- →overworking the painting
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use good quality paints for better color saturation and longevity. Pre-primed canvas is recommended.
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