plate no. 2358
Homeward Bound
Hugo Simberg, 1901
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in creating atmospheric perspective and using a limited palette to convey a mood. Students can develop skills in rendering figures in simple forms and suggesting texture with hatching and cross-hatching.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, figures, and trees.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the sky and trees with charcoal or dark pencil.
- step 03
Add lighter tones to the sky, blending slightly to create a sense of depth.
- step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create texture in the snow and figures.
- step 05
Introduce subtle hints of pink and orange in the sky near the horizon.
- step 06
Refine the details of the figures and the sledge.
- step 07
Add final touches to the snow, suggesting footprints and shadows.
- step 08
Soften edges where needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · black · white · gray
secondary · pink · orange
Mix shades of gray by varying the pressure of your pencil or charcoal. Use very diluted pink and orange for the sky.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·limited palette
- ·tonal drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Making the snow too uniform and flat.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures.
- →Not varying the pressure of the drawing tool to create different values.
materials
surface · sketch paper
required
- ·sketch paper
- ·charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
- ·eraser
- ·blending stump
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·fixative spray
optional
- ·toned paper
- ·white chalk pencil
- ·ruler
Experiment with different paper textures to achieve varied effects. Use fixative spray to prevent smudging.
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