plate no. 4571
Man with Easel
Gerrit Dou, 1630
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic light and shadow, as well as creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in accurately depicting complex forms and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin to build up the values and refine the forms, focusing on the figure and easel first.
- step 04
Develop the details in the still life elements, paying attention to the textures and reflections.
- step 05
Work on the background, gradually darkening the tones to create depth.
- step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism.
- step 07
Add final details and glazes to unify the painting.
- step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth pigments with black and white. Use ultramarine blue to create the cool shadows and the greenish hue of the cloth. Glazes of burnt sienna can add warmth to the highlights.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering textures
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to create a strong sense of depth.
- →Not paying enough attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A toned canvas can help to establish the overall value range.
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