plate no. 0763
Shop Window
Isaac Israels, 1898
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the window and figures.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of dark and light values using thinned paint.
- step 03
Establish the warm and cool color relationships within the window display.
- step 04
Add details to the dresses and figures using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Refine the edges and add highlights to create a sense of depth and light.
- step 06
Develop the background with loose, suggestive brushwork.
- step 07
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
- step 08
Allow to dry and apply a varnish for protection.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red light · titanium white · ultramarine blue
Mix blacks and browns with touches of red and blue to avoid a flat, lifeless tone. Use white sparingly to create highlights and subtle shifts in value.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Creating muddy colors
- →Ignoring value relationships
- →Making the composition too symmetrical
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g. Liquin)
- ·turpentine
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow the paint to grab easily. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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