plate no. 6267
Mittens
Ralph Hedley, 1907
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a warm, indoor light and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective and subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and furniture.
- step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the painting with a thin wash of burnt umber and yellow ochre.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the values and relationships between them.
- step 04
Develop the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow on their faces and clothing.
- step 05
Add details to the furniture and background, using smaller brushes.
- step 06
Refine the edges and details, softening some areas and sharpening others.
- step 07
Add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and add depth.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · sap green
Use burnt umber and yellow ochre to create the warm, earthy tones of the interior. Mix small amounts of cadmium red and ultramarine blue to create the darker shades. Add titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint and losing the transparency of the glazes.
- →Not paying enough attention to the values and color relationships.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
