plate no. 5026
Memory
Sergey Solomko, 1910
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in rendering figures with soft, diffused light and creating a sense of atmosphere through subtle color variations. Students can develop skills in layering colors and creating depth in a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and trees.
- step 02
Block in the background with diluted washes of color, establishing the overall mood.
- step 03
Begin layering colors on the figures, starting with the lightest tones and gradually adding shadows.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the drapery and folds in the clothing, using subtle color variations to create form.
- step 05
Paint the trees, using a dry brush technique to create texture and detail.
- step 06
Add the moon and surrounding sky, blending the colors softly to create a hazy effect.
- step 07
Refine the details of the figures' faces and hands.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and burnt sienna to achieve the various skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create muted grays for the shadows and background. Add yellow ochre to white for highlights.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the soft, ethereal quality of the painting.
- →Using too much contrast and creating harsh shadows.
- →Failing to blend the colors smoothly and creating a choppy effect.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) is recommended.
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