plate no. 8913
Obama Forign Policy
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, atmospheric perspective, and creating a dramatic narrative through color and composition. It also provides practice in rendering textures like smoke, fire, and grass.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the main elements of the background.
- step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, ground, and figure using thin washes.
- step 03
Begin building up the background, focusing on the atmospheric perspective and the rendering of the fire and smoke.
- step 04
Develop the figure, paying attention to the proportions, anatomy, and lighting.
- step 05
Add details to the figure, such as the clothing, facial features, and golf club.
- step 06
Refine the foreground, adding details to the grass and the golf ball.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and drama.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix various shades of brown and gray for the smoke and clouds. Use cadmium red and yellow ochre for the fire, and mix greens for the grass using ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. Use titanium white to create highlights.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impact.
- →Not paying attention to the lighting and shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, cadmium red, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, ivory black)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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