plate no. 5230
Folk Family
William H. Johnson, 1944
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students can learn to create a sense of depth and form using flat colors and minimal shading.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figures and the background, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background, floor, and clothing.
- step 03
Add the skin tones, using a limited palette and mixing colors as needed.
- step 04
Paint the details of the clothing, such as the hearts on the dress and the squares on the pants.
- step 05
Define the facial features with simple shapes and lines.
- step 06
Add the red bench and any other small details.
- step 07
Refine the edges and shapes as needed.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as necessary.
color palette
primary · red · blue · yellow · brown
secondary · green · white · gray · purple
Mix browns from red, yellow, and blue. Create lighter skin tones by mixing white with brown and a touch of red or yellow. Use white to lighten blues and create the background color.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·simplified shapes
- ·color blocking
- ·basic figure drawing
- ·pattern repetition
common pitfalls
- →overcomplicating the shapes
- →using too many colors
- →getting the proportions wrong
- →overworking the details
materials
surface · canvas board
required
- ·acrylic paints
- ·canvas board
- ·assorted paint brushes
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
- ·easel
Use inexpensive acrylic paints for this project. A variety of brush sizes will be helpful for filling in different areas.
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