plate no. 0433
Nu au tricot rouge
Francis Gruber, 1944
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice value studies and learn to create form using a limited palette. It also provides practice in capturing the human figure and rendering interior spaces.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of light and shadow using a mid-tone gray.
- step 03
Begin to darken the shadows, building up layers of darker grays to create depth.
- step 04
Add highlights using lighter grays, focusing on areas where light is hitting the figure and objects.
- step 05
Refine the details of the figure, including the facial features and clothing.
- step 06
Add details to the background, such as the stairs, furniture, and doorway.
- step 07
Adjust the values as needed to create a sense of balance and harmony.
- step 08
Add final touches and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · raw umber
Mix different ratios of ivory black and titanium white to create a range of grays. Add small amounts of raw umber to warm up the grays.
techniques
- ·value study
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·grisaille
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Creating a flat, lifeless painting by not varying the values enough.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
- →Ignoring the perspective of the interior space.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·round brush #4
- ·flat brush #8
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·charcoal
A toned canvas can be helpful for establishing the mid-tones.
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