plate no. 9193
Herring
Magnus Enckell, 1904
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in rendering reflective surfaces and creating depth through overlapping forms. Students will develop skills in loose brushwork and color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the basket and the overall mass of the fish.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of ochre and brown.
- step 03
Block in the dark areas of the basket with burnt umber and black.
- step 04
Begin layering the fish with white, grey, and blue, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Add details to the fish, such as the eyes and fins, using small brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the basket's texture and form with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 08
Add final highlights to the fish to enhance their reflective quality.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the silvery tones of the fish. Use ochre and umber for the basket, adjusting the ratios for highlights and shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details of the fish, resulting in a stiff appearance.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the highlights and shadows.
- →Using too much paint, which can obscure the texture of the canvas.
- →Not establishing a clear light source, leading to inconsistent values.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-texture canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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