plate no. 3775
In the last journey
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in motion and creating atmospheric perspective with muted colors. It also offers practice in rendering textures of snow and clothing.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures, buildings, and the sledge, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by laying down a thin wash of diluted raw umber and yellow ochre for the snow and buildings.
- step 03
Begin building up darker values in the figures' clothing, using a mix of black, burnt umber, and a touch of ultramarine blue.
- step 04
Add details to the faces and hands, using a limited palette of flesh tones.
- step 05
Paint the sledge and coffin, focusing on the light and shadow to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Add the background figures and trees, using a lighter touch to suggest distance.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of realism.
- step 08
Glaze with diluted washes to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · black · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow
Mix raw umber and yellow ochre for the snow, adding white for highlights and ultramarine blue for shadows. Use black, burnt umber, and ultramarine blue for the dark clothing, adjusting the ratios to create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·value control
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to establish a consistent light source.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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