plate no. 6257
Importunate
Paul-Albert Besnard, 1900
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand value relationships and how to create depth using a limited palette. It also provides practice in rendering form with hatching and cross-hatching techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figures, the table, and the skeleton.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the composition with a dark wash.
- step 03
Begin adding layers of hatching and cross-hatching to build up the mid-tones.
- step 04
Focus on defining the forms of the figures and the skeleton with varying line weights.
- step 05
Use lighter, more delicate lines to suggest the highlights on the figures and objects.
- step 06
Pay attention to the direction of the lines to convey the form and texture of the subjects.
- step 07
Refine the details of the faces and the skeleton's anatomy.
- step 08
Add final touches to enhance the contrast and create a sense of depth.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber
secondary · titanium white · sepia
Mix ivory black and raw umber to create a range of dark, neutral tones. Use titanium white sparingly to create highlights and subtle variations in value. Sepia can be used for warmer dark tones.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·dry brushing
- ·value studies
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating a flat, uniform tone instead of varying the values.
- →Ignoring the direction of the lines, which can flatten the forms.
- →Using too much white, which can make the painting look chalky.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brush #2
- ·flat brush #4
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·sepia oil paint
- ·charcoal
Use a canvas with a smooth surface to facilitate the hatching and cross-hatching techniques. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base value.
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