plate no. 2627
Fahrgast Schlafend
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in limited palette color mixing and creating form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing mood and atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of dark blue/black as an underpainting.
- step 03
Begin building up the dark areas of the hats and clothing, using layers of slightly different blues and blacks.
- step 04
Introduce the warmer tones in the face of the figure on the left, blending carefully to create soft transitions.
- step 05
Add subtle highlights to the faces and clothing to define form.
- step 06
Refine the details of the facial features, paying attention to the shapes of the eyes and mouths.
- step 07
Add the background colors, blending them softly into the figures.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · burnt sienna
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red
Mix dark blues and blacks by combining ultramarine blue and ivory black. Achieve the warm skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red. Use white sparingly to create subtle highlights.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·value studies
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall mood.
- →Using too much white and making the painting look chalky.
- →Not paying enough attention to the subtle value changes.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
A toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of burnt umber) can be helpful for establishing the dark mood of the painting.
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