plate no. 7635
Picnic
Grégoire Michonze, 1957
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive composition. It also encourages experimentation with visible brushstrokes to add texture and character.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and landscape elements.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the foreground.
- step 03
Add details to the figures, such as clothing and facial features.
- step 04
Define the shapes of the boats, animals and other objects.
- step 05
Refine the colors and values, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Add texture with visible brushstrokes.
- step 07
Pay attention to the relationships between the figures and the landscape.
- step 08
Add final details and touch-ups.
color palette
primary · ochre · grey · red · yellow
secondary · blue · green · pink
Mix ochre with white for lighter skin tones and grey with blue for the water. Use red and yellow to create various shades of orange and brown for the animals and figures.
techniques
- ·blocking
- ·simplification
- ·visible brushstrokes
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes
- →Using too many colors
- →Ignoring the relationships between the figures and the landscape
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·flat brushes
- ·round brushes
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylic paints are recommended for their quick drying time and ease of use.
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