plate no. 6517

Hunter

Magnus Enckell, 1919

oilSymbolismportraitfigureportraittreesgunforestclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve natural skin tones and learn to suggest form through expressive brushstrokes rather than precise detail. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a mood through pose and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, gun, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, using thicker brushstrokes to define form and add texture.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones, mixing colors on the palette and applying them with small, deliberate strokes.
step 05
Develop the background by layering different shades of green and brown to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 06
Refine the details of the face and hands, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the gun and the cap, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, or value.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix various combinations of raw umber, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and white to achieve the skin tones. Use viridian green and ultramarine blue for the foliage, and add small amounts of cadmium red to warm up the browns.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much detail and creating a stiff, unnatural effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Ignoring the overall value structure and creating a flat, uninteresting painting.