plate no. 4902
Girl Crotcheting
Edmund Charles Tarbell, 1904
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing subtle light and shadow variations and creating a sense of atmosphere through color mixing and blending.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, table, chair, and background elements.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin to refine the figure, focusing on the light hitting her face and clothing.
- step 04
Develop the background details, paying attention to the subtle color variations in the wall and the paintings.
- step 05
Add details to the table and chair, capturing the textures and reflections.
- step 06
Refine the edges and blend the colors to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of harmony.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of secondary colors. Use raw umber and ivory black to create a range of grays and browns.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and creating a jarring effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle light and shadow variations.
- →Ignoring the importance of edges and creating a flat, lifeless painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A pre-primed canvas is recommended.
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