plate no. 4168
Seated Figure, Corsica
Émilie Charmy, 1907
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice loose brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. It's also a good exercise in capturing a figure within a landscape setting using simplified forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: figure, tree, and background elements.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, grass, and figure's clothing.
- step 03
Add darker values to define the shadows and forms, especially on the tree and figure.
- step 04
Mix greens for the grass and foliage, varying the shades and tones.
- step 05
Refine the figure's features and clothing details, keeping the brushstrokes loose.
- step 06
Add highlights to create a sense of light and form.
- step 07
Paint the small details like the clovers and the branches.
- step 08
Review and adjust the colors and values to achieve a harmonious balance.
color palette
primary · viridian green · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and adjust with white or brown to create different shades. Use red and brown to create the skin tones and the figure's shirt. Mix white with blue and green to create the background.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·loose brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Making the figure too stiff or posed.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for loose brushwork. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils will allow for more blending time.
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