plate no. 2028
On the Sofa
Wilhelm Trübner, 1872
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing subtle light variations on fabric, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering complex patterns.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure, sofa, table, and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas, especially the figure's dress and the background.
- step 03
Begin layering in the base colors for the skin tones, sofa fabric, tablecloth, and floral patterns.
- step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
- step 05
Work on the floral patterns on the sofa and background, simplifying the details and focusing on the overall impression.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the fabric folds and other details.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details, softening some areas to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the color harmony.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Mix blacks and browns with blues and reds to create depth. Use white and yellow ochre for highlights and skin tones. Muted tones are key.
techniques
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, especially in the floral patterns.
- →Creating harsh edges and losing the atmospheric perspective.
- →Failing to capture the subtle value shifts in the skin tones.
- →Making the dark areas too flat and lifeless.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for expressive brushwork. Consider using a toned ground to establish the overall value structure.
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