plate no. 8708
My Children
Abbott Handerson Thayer, 1897
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and mood, and in rendering fabric and foliage with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also emphasizes the importance of value relationships in creating form and depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of color, focusing on the overall value and temperature.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
- step 04
Begin to refine the features of the faces, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing and foliage, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and interest.
- step 06
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to the faces and clothing.
- step 08
Glaze with thin washes to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black
secondary · viridian green · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using white to create subtle variations in value. The skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat, lifeless painting.
- →Getting bogged down in the details of the faces and losing the overall likeness.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated, resulting in a painting that is too garish.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting thinner
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for both fine detail and expressive brushwork. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base value.
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