plate no. 8310
Peasant Girls in the Forest
Alexei Korzukhin, 1877
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a dimly lit environment and creating depth using atmospheric perspective and subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the tree.
- step 02
Establish the dark background using a mix of browns and blacks.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures and their clothing with mid-tone colors.
- step 04
Add highlights to the figures and the tree trunk where the light is hitting.
- step 05
Develop the details of the faces, clothing folds, and foliage.
- step 06
Refine the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Add small details like the basket and the flowers in the foreground.
- step 08
Glaze thin layers to unify the painting and adjust the overall tone.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Achieve the dark, muted tones by mixing browns, blacks, and small amounts of blues and reds. Use white sparingly to create highlights.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in color temperature.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a toned canvas to make it easier to establish the dark values. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint.
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