plate no. 2256

Romany Belles

Laura Knight, 1938

oilImpressionismportraitfiguresportraitslandscapeclothingheadscarvescrowd

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabrics, and capturing the impression of a background scene with loose brushwork. It also encourages observation of light and shadow on complex forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the skin, clothing, and background, focusing on overall tones.
step 03
Refine the skin tones, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the patterns and folds.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and form.
step 06
Work on the background, using loose brushstrokes to suggest the crowd and buildings.
step 07
Refine the details of the faces, adding features and expressions.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to balance the composition and enhance the overall impression.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · sap green · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, adding small amounts of red or blue to adjust the temperature. Achieve the various fabric colors by mixing primary colors with white and black for muted tones.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·loose brushwork
·layering
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tones.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, sap green)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil