plate no. 5677
June Sunlight
Joseph DeCamp, 1902
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with broken color, and in rendering figures within a landscape setting. It also provides practice in creating subtle color variations to suggest form and texture.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and landscape elements, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color, such as the water, sky, and figures' clothing.
- step 03
Begin to refine the forms of the figures, paying attention to the way light falls on their faces and clothing.
- step 04
Add details to the landscape, such as the trees and foliage, using broken color to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 05
Develop the textures of the clothing and other surfaces using a variety of brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and form.
- step 07
Add final details, such as the facial features and the patterns on the clothing.
- step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, or value.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · raw umber
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian
Achieve the subtle variations in the white clothing by mixing small amounts of blue, yellow ochre, and raw umber with white. Use glazes of alizarin crimson and cadmium yellow to create the warm skin tones.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
- →Neglecting the importance of the background in creating a sense of depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a high-quality canvas and artist-grade oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve its flow.
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