plate no. 9749

Now and Again I Stumbled, for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island

Elenore Abbott, 1911

oilRomanticismillustrationfiguretreelandscapefoliagecloudswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and form, as well as practicing detailed linework for outlines and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the tree.
step 02
Outline the main shapes with a fine liner brush or pen.
step 03
Apply a light wash of color to the sky and water areas.
step 04
Layer in the base colors for the figure's clothing and skin.
step 05
Begin building up the foliage and tree trunk with darker and lighter shades.
step 06
Add details to the figure's face and clothing, including shadows and highlights.
step 07
Refine the linework and add any final details, such as the rope and small plants.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Burnt Sienna · Cadmium Red · Titanium White

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Sap Green · Payne's Gray

Mix blues and browns for the figure's clothing and tree shadows. Use red and white to create the pinkish clouds. Mix greens and browns for the foliage.

techniques