plate no. 5454
Fred
Eric Fischl, 1998
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to use chiaroscuro to create dramatic lighting and how to model form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in portraiture and capturing a likeness.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of dark and light using a thin wash of diluted paint.
- step 03
Focus on the face, establishing the key features and the fall of light.
- step 04
Develop the values in the clothing and chair, paying attention to the subtle gradations.
- step 05
Refine the details of the hands and feet.
- step 06
Adjust the background values to create depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Add highlights to the face, chair, and clothing to enhance the form.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and values.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Mix various shades of gray by combining ivory black and titanium white. Add small amounts of raw umber or ultramarine blue to create warmer or cooler grays. Use yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·value study
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to capture the subtle value changes in the shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a high-quality canvas and artist-grade oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve flow.
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