plate no. 7558

Family of the Businessman B. H. Strousberg

oilAcademicismportraitfiguresportraitgardenarchitecturedogsplants

experienced study

Recreating this painting would help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering fabrics and textures, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in complex composition and figure arrangement.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, focusing on the overall color and value relationships.
step 03
Start painting the main figures, beginning with the largest shapes and gradually adding details.
step 04
Pay attention to the light source and how it affects the form of each figure.
step 05
Develop the textures of the fabrics and other materials, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the faces, focusing on capturing the likeness of each person.
step 07
Refine the background and foreground, adding details such as plants and architectural elements.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use cadmium red and white to create the pinks in the dresses. Add ultramarine blue to black for a cooler black.

techniques

·portraiture
·fabric rendering
·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of figures
→Muddy color mixing
→Overworking details too early
→Ignoring the light source
→Lack of contrast

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 24x36
·Oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, cadmium red, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow light)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags