plate no. 1981
July Sun
Henry Scott Tuke, 1913
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, particularly rendering skin tones and understanding light and shadow on the human form. It also provides practice in capturing the textures of rocks and water with visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, rocks, and water, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest values in the rock formation and the figure's shadow areas.
- step 03
Begin layering in the base skin tone, using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.
- step 04
Develop the form of the figure by adding highlights and shadows, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color temperature.
- step 05
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, capturing the reflections and the variations in color.
- step 06
Add details to the rocks, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the figure and the rocks, softening some areas and sharpening others.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red. The rocks use a combination of burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, and white. Water is a mix of ultramarine blue, viridian green, and white.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·alla prima
- ·color temperature
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in color temperature in the shadows and highlights.
- →Making the rocks too uniform in color and texture.
- →Losing the sense of depth in the water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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