plate no. 2757

Resting Vagabonds

Laszlo Mednyanszky, 1918

oil, canvasImpressionismgenre paintingfigureslandscapetreesforestresting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in limited palette painting and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the human form in a relaxed, informal pose.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin, warm underpainting.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures and the background with broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Refine the forms of the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the background, such as the trees and foliage.
step 06
Blend the edges of the forms to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figures.
step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and add depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · ivory black · titanium white

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of black and white. Use more yellow ochre for highlights and more burnt umber for shadows.

techniques

·scumbling
·glazing
·dry brushing
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using too much white and creating a chalky effect.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making the background too sharp.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·yellow ochre oil paint
·burnt umber oil paint
·raw sienna oil paint
·ivory black oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#8 filbert brush

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting to paint.

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