plate no. 8455
In Erwartung
Wilhelm Leibl, 1898
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing a likeness in profile, and in rendering textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle value shifts.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background, paying attention to the overall composition.
- step 02
Establish the main value ranges with thin washes of color, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
- step 03
Begin building up the form of the face, using subtle color variations to create depth and volume.
- step 04
Work on the clothing, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the fabric.
- step 05
Define the details of the hat, paying attention to the way the light catches the edges.
- step 06
Develop the background, using loose brushstrokes to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of the secondary colors. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create neutral grays.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figure.
- →Creating overly harsh value contrasts.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·oil paints (raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
