plate no. 6940
Reinforcements: Troops Marching
Grace Cossington Smith, 1917
some experience helpful
This painting is great for learning about simplifying complex scenes and using visible brushstrokes to create texture and form. Students can practice color mixing to achieve the muted tones and explore the use of repetitive shapes to suggest a crowd.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, crowd, and figures.
- step 02
Block in the main colors of the buildings, sky, and ground using thin washes.
- step 03
Start adding details to the buildings, using short, visible brushstrokes to define windows and architectural features.
- step 04
Begin painting the crowd, using simplified shapes and colors to represent the soldiers and spectators.
- step 05
Add details to the foreground figures, paying attention to their clothing and gestures.
- step 06
Define the flags and other small details with bolder colors and brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition and add highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · sap green
Mix yellow ochre and white for the buildings, raw umber and blue for the soldiers' uniforms, and red and white for the flags. Use small amounts of blue and green to create shadows and variations in the crowd.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·simplification
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting bogged down in details and failing to capture the overall impression.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Creating a flat, lifeless composition by not paying attention to value contrasts.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·turpentine or mineral spirits (for cleaning oil brushes)
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for sufficient detail. Acrylics are a good option for beginners due to their fast drying time.
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