plate no. 4991
Shadows
Paul Delvaux, 1965
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex shadows and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in painting realistic figures and architectural details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, train, trees, and horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, sea, ground, and train.
- step 03
Begin layering the shadows on the ground and the train, paying attention to the direction of light.
- step 04
Paint the trees, focusing on the intricate branch structure and their shadows.
- step 05
Develop the figure, starting with the basic shapes and gradually adding details to the face and dress.
- step 06
Refine the details of the train and the surrounding architectural elements.
- step 07
Add the final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green
Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining black, white, and umber. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky and sea, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering shadows
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to create a convincing sense of depth.
- →Inaccurately rendering the shadows.
- →Using too much color, making the painting look unnatural.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grain canvas will provide a good surface for layering.
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