plate no. 8840
Little boy writing a letter
Norman Rockwell, 1920
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures and capturing nuanced facial expressions. It also provides practice in composing a scene with multiple elements and creating a narrative.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and composition.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall values.
- step 03
Begin refining the details of the boy's face and hands.
- step 04
Add details to the dog, paying attention to the fur texture.
- step 05
Work on the barrel, rendering the wood grain and highlights.
- step 06
Paint the clothing, adding folds and shadows.
- step 07
Add the smaller details like the inkwell, letter, and shoes.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final touches.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium orange · ivory black · ultramarine blue
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium orange to warm up the browns and ultramarine blue to cool them down.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure incorrect.
- →Not capturing the subtle nuances of the facial expression.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium orange oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grit canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color scheme.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
