plate no. 5597

Forgotten Man

Jon Mcnaughton, 2010

oilSocial Realismsymbolic paintingfiguresWhite Housetreesmoneybenchdocuments

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering realistic figures, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It will also improve their ability to mix subtle color variations and manage a complex composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a detailed sketch outlining the composition, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, starting with the sky and trees.
step 03
Establish the basic values and colors of the White House, focusing on light and shadow.
step 04
Begin painting the figures, starting with the ones in the back and working forward.
step 05
Pay close attention to the details of each figure's face and clothing.
step 06
Add the bench and the man sitting on it, focusing on his posture and expression.
step 07
Paint the scattered money and documents on the ground, paying attention to their size and placement.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using a limited palette. Use glazes to build up depth and create subtle color variations.

techniques

·portraiture
·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·figure drawing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figures.
→Overly saturated colors.
→Lack of depth and atmospheric perspective.
→Inaccurate rendering of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 24x36
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, sap green)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags