plate no. 8703
À l’Aube
Charles Hermans, 1875
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex figures in varied poses and capturing subtle atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting intricate details of clothing and architecture.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 03
Gradually build up the details of the figures, paying attention to proportions and anatomy.
- step 04
Introduce local color to the clothing and architectural elements.
- step 05
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Add subtle details to the faces and hands to bring the figures to life.
- step 07
Pay close attention to the textures of the clothing and the surfaces of the building.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · Prussian blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth colors with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use glazes of thinned color to create subtle variations in hue and value.
techniques
- ·figure drawing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of figures
- →Overly bright or saturated colors
- →Lack of depth and dimension
- →Ignoring subtle value shifts
- →Getting lost in details too early
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
Use a high-quality canvas primed with gesso. Consider using a toned ground to help establish the overall color scheme.
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