plate no. 3821

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oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfigurecityscapebuildingspeoplestreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and expression, as well as practicing atmospheric perspective to create depth in a cityscape. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes and use color to create mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the cityscape in the background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying thin washes of color to the canvas.
step 03
Begin building up the values and details of the face, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 04
Add details to the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 05
Develop the background cityscape, using atmospheric perspective to create depth and distance.
step 06
Add the figures in the background, simplifying their forms and using muted colors to blend them into the scene.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing, using subtle variations in color and value to create form and texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition, ensuring that the focal point is clear and the overall mood is consistent.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium red · Yellow ochre

secondary · Titanium white · Burnt umber

Mix Prussian blue with white to create the various shades of blue in the clothing. Use cadmium red and yellow ochre to create the warm tones in the face and hair. Burnt umber can be used to darken shadows and add depth to the composition.

techniques

·Impasto
·Scumbling
·Atmospheric perspective
·Portraiture
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the face, resulting in a stiff or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background, resulting in a flat or two-dimensional composition.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a garish or unrealistic appearance.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast, resulting in a muddy or indistinct composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Cadmium red, Yellow ochre, Titanium white, Burnt umber)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife