plate no. 6706
Italian mother with toddler and boy in a landscape
Theodor Leopold Weller, 1849
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in rendering realistic skin tones and drapery. Students can also learn about creating depth through atmospheric perspective in the background.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures' clothing and skin tones.
- step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle color variations to create form and volume.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as folds, ribbons, and patterns.
- step 06
Paint the details of the faces, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle expressions.
- step 07
Add the orange tree and other landscape details.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · ivory black
Mix skin tones with white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding blue to background colors.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff or unnatural appearance.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color harmony.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Romantic Landscape
Karl Lessing
Self-portrait with his brother Francesco
Giuseppe Tominz
Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie
Léon Cogniet
Duke of Alba
Francisco Goya
Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal
Andreas Achenbach
Young Girl Fixing Her Hair
Sophie Gengembre Anderson
The Plough Inn
William Shayer
Hudson River Landscape
Johann Hermann Carmiencke