plate no. 8042
Reading in the Garden
Ipolit Strambu, 1910
some experience helpful
This painting offers a great opportunity to practice loose brushwork and capturing light and shadow in a natural setting. Students can learn to simplify forms and suggest details with expressive strokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, hat, and background elements.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall values.
- step 03
Start defining the figure's form, paying attention to the light on the dress and face.
- step 04
Add details to the hat and flowers, using small, deliberate brushstrokes.
- step 05
Develop the background with loose, gestural strokes, suggesting foliage and light.
- step 06
Refine the edges and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add the details of the book and hands.
- step 08
Step back and make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · viridian green · burnt sienna
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green, adjust with white for lighter tones. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use burnt sienna to create shadows and earthy tones.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform and lacking variety.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·round brushes size 4 and 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·medium
Use a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more harmonious color scheme.
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