plate no. 8771

Family on Vacation

Roman Selsky, 1975

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfiguresbeachseaskymountainfamily

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified figure painting and color mixing to achieve skin tones and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing a sense of light and shadow with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and landscape elements (mountain, sea, sky) using a pencil or thin brush.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, sea, and beach, using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up the figures with basic skin tones, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Add details to the figures, such as clothing, hair, and facial features, using thicker paint.
step 05
Refine the landscape by adding details to the mountain, sea, and sky, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Pay attention to the color harmony and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Add final details and touches to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · burnt sienna · purple

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create variations in the sky and sea by mixing blue with white and green. Use purple and brown for shadows.

techniques