plate no. 8732
Margaret ("gretchen") Strong
Frank W. Benson, 1909
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow on fabric, as well as creating a sense of depth and atmosphere in a landscape. It also provides practice in portraiture and capturing a likeness.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, sea, grass, and the figure's dress.
- step 03
Establish the basic values (light and dark) in each area.
- step 04
Begin refining the figure's features and the folds in the dress.
- step 05
Add details to the landscape, such as the trees and the distant landmass.
- step 06
Develop the texture of the grass with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · viridian green · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow light
Mix various shades of blue and green for the sea and sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the grass, adding white to lighten the tones. Mix white with small amounts of blue, yellow, and red to create the subtle colors in the dress.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry layering
- ·alla prima
- ·implied detail
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to capture the subtle shifts in value and color.
- →Not paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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