plate no. 9418
Miner's Wives
Ben Shahn, 1944
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create texture and in simplifying complex scenes into expressive shapes. It will also help them understand how to use color to convey mood and emotion.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the doorway.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the red wall, the yellow-brown floor, and the figures' clothing.
- step 03
Add the brick texture to the wall using a dry brush technique with slightly lighter and darker shades of red.
- step 04
Develop the figures' features, simplifying the forms and focusing on expressive lines.
- step 05
Paint the doorway scene, using a limited palette of red, white, and black.
- step 06
Add details such as the coat hanging on the wall and the lines in the figures' clothing.
- step 07
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the overall mood of the painting.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights.
color palette
primary · red · yellow ochre · blue · white
secondary · brown · black · grey
Mix various shades of red by adding small amounts of brown, yellow ochre, or black. Create muted tones by mixing complementary colors.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·expressive line work
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the painting.
- →Creating colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to simplify the forms and shapes.
- →Not paying attention to the overall mood and atmosphere.
materials
surface · cardboard
required
- ·Tempera paints
- ·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·Cardboard or canvas panel
- ·Palette
- ·Water
- ·Paper towels
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Retarder medium
- ·Varnish
Using a slightly textured cardboard can enhance the dry brush effect. Tempera paints dry quickly, so work in small sections.
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