plate no. 1465
On the Bench
Edouard Manet, 1879
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing likeness with loose strokes and understanding color temperature to create depth. It also provides practice in suggesting details rather than rendering them precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the woman, hat, and background elements.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas with broad strokes, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and light.
- step 04
Add details to the hat, using short, broken strokes to create texture and form.
- step 05
Define the features of the face, using soft lines and subtle shading.
- step 06
Suggest the foliage and flowers in the background with loose, gestural marks.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · viridian green · rose madder · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of rose madder. Achieve greens by mixing yellow ochre and viridian, and vary the shades by adding ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brush
- ·color temperature
- ·hatching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the original.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to capture the subtle shifts in value and color.
- →Ignoring the importance of negative space.
materials
surface · pastel paper
required
- ·pastel sticks
- ·pastel paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·fixative spray
- ·soft blending stumps
- ·palette
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·workable fixative
- ·pastel pencils
- ·easel
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to grip the pastel. Use workable fixative sparingly to prevent buildup.
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