plate no. 0830

Saint Francis in the Woods

Albert Bloch, 1927

oil, canvasSymbolismreligious paintingfiguresanimalstreeslandscapereligiousforest

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of figures and animals.
step 02
Establish the overall warm color tone with a thin wash of burnt sienna or raw umber.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, animals, and landscape elements using simplified forms.
step 04
Begin layering colors, gradually building up the values and adding subtle variations.
step 05
Pay attention to the light source and create highlights and shadows accordingly.
step 06
Add details to the faces, clothing, and animal features.
step 07
Refine the background elements, such as trees and foliage, using soft blending techniques.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of other colors. Use thin washes of color to build up depth.

techniques

·layering
·glazing
·soft blending
·dry brushing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Creating harsh lines or edges
→Using colors that are too saturated
→Losing the overall warm tone

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags