plate no. 3550

Portrait of Nina and Wolfgang Slevogt (Children in the Forest)

Max Slevogt, 1917

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitfiguresforestchildrenportraittreesrifle

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing likenesses, rendering fabric textures with loose brushstrokes, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective in a forest setting. Students will also learn to mix subtle color variations to depict light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures and the main elements of the forest.
step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of paint, establishing the overall value structure.
step 03
Start defining the figures' features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value to capture their likenesses.
step 04
Develop the background by layering different shades of green and brown to create depth and atmosphere.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the folds and wrinkles in the fabric, using loose brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the facial features, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Add details to the rifle, paying attention to the texture and shape of the metal and wood.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White · Burnt Umber

secondary · Cadmium Red Light · Sap Green

Mix greens by combining Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, and a touch of Burnt Umber. Achieve skin tones by blending Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, and Cadmium Red Light, adjusting the ratios for highlights and shadows.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken Color
·Scumbling
·Wet-on-wet blending
·Layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Red Light, Sap Green)
·Round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·Flat brushes (#6, #8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits