plate no. 7376
Patience
Balthus, 1955
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting human form with subtle shading and understanding how to create a muted color palette. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with simplified shapes and forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, table, chair, and cat.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
- step 03
Develop the figure's form with subtle shading, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Refine the details of the table, chair, and candle, focusing on their simple shapes.
- step 05
Add the cat, capturing its playful pose and markings.
- step 06
Adjust the background color and texture to create a sense of depth.
- step 07
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a soft, muted effect.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall composition.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · ivory black
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use thin glazes to build up color and create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using colors that are too bright
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure
- →Not capturing the soft, muted atmosphere
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting easel
Use a fine-grain canvas to achieve a smooth surface for blending and glazing.
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