plate no. 6135
First Comunion
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing quick sketching and capturing figures in motion with loose brushstrokes. Students can also learn to simplify details and focus on capturing the overall impression of a scene.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and the building structure with a pencil.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of light brown or beige as a base layer for the entire painting.
- step 03
Block in the dark areas of the figures and building with darker browns and blacks, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
- step 04
Add highlights to the figures and building with white or light beige, focusing on areas where light hits.
- step 05
Define the details of the figures and building with thin lines of black or dark brown.
- step 06
Add details to the baby carriage and the street surface.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and white for the base tones. Use black and raw umber for darker shadows. Add a touch of yellow ochre to the base tone for warmth.
techniques
- ·sketching
- ·wash
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·hatching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the original.
- →Making the values too uniform, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
- →Not capturing the movement and energy of the figures.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
materials
surface · cardboard
required
- ·cardboard or canvas panel
- ·raw umber acrylic or oil paint
- ·ivory black acrylic or oil paint
- ·titanium white acrylic or oil paint
- ·round brush size 4
- ·flat brush size 6
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·watercolor pencils
Use a toned cardboard or canvas panel for a similar effect to the original. Acrylics are faster drying, but oils allow for more blending.
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