plate no. 3661
Knocking off the Fork
Oliver Kilbourn, 1975
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand perspective, value shading to create depth, and how to depict a scene with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in painting figures in a realistic, albeit simplified, style.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the tunnel and the placement of the carts and figure.
- step 02
Establish the darkest values in the background and the coal in the carts.
- step 03
Block in the mid-tones for the tunnel walls, supports, and carts, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Add highlights to the carts and tunnel supports to create a sense of depth and form.
- step 05
Paint the figure, starting with the basic shapes and then adding details like clothing and facial features.
- step 06
Refine the details of the coal carts, adding texture and variation to the coal.
- step 07
Add the thin line representing the cable or rope.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic scene.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black
secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre
Mix burnt umber and black for the darkest areas. Use raw sienna and white for the lighter areas of the tunnel. Add small amounts of yellow ochre to warm up the browns.
techniques
- ·linear perspective
- ·value shading
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective will flatten the image.
- →Over-blending can make the painting look muddy.
- →Ignoring value changes will make the forms look flat.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brush #4
- ·flat brush #8
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for dry brushing techniques. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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