plate no. 5405
La Scogliera
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering realistic skin tones and clothing folds, as well as creating depth and atmosphere in a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the cliff edge.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, sea, cliff, and figure's clothing.
- step 03
Begin refining the sky with subtle gradients, blending light and dark blues.
- step 04
Develop the cliff face, adding texture and detail with various browns and earth tones.
- step 05
Start working on the figure, focusing on the face and hands, building up layers of color for realistic skin tones.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the details of the hair and the small plants on the cliff.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · payne's gray
Mix various shades of blue for the sky, adding white for highlights and a touch of grey for the horizon. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre to create the base for the cliff, then add white, sienna, and touches of blue for variation. Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to create enough depth in the cliff face, making it look flat.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky, resulting in a monotonous blue.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints: ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw sienna, payne's gray
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium gel
- ·mahogany panel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will aid in blending.
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