plate no. 9292

Freedom of Speech

Norman Rockwell, 1943

oil, canvasRegionalismgenre paintingfiguresportraitscrowdmeetingclothinghands

experienced study

This painting offers practice in rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as capturing the nuances of facial expressions and clothing folds. Students can learn to create depth and dimension through careful observation of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures.
step 05
Refine the facial features and expressions of each figure.
step 06
Add the background and any remaining details.
step 07
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create dark shadows and background tones. Mix yellow ochre with white for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·layering
·chiaroscuro
·realistic rendering

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the figures.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tones.
→Overworking the details, leading to a stiff and unnatural appearance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife