plate no. 5593
Sitting Peasant
Bela Czobel, 1904
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve nuanced skin tones and practice layering brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in capturing a sense of light and shadow in a natural setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, fence, and background elements.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, using thin washes to establish the overall color scheme.
- step 03
Begin layering in darker values to define shadows and create depth.
- step 04
Mix and apply colors for the figure's skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the figure's clothing and facial features, using smaller brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the background elements, adding texture and detail to the trees and foliage.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and balance.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue
secondary · viridian · burnt umber · titanium white
Mix yellow ochre and alizarin crimson for the skin tones, adding white for highlights and ultramarine blue for shadows. Use viridian and yellow ochre for the foliage, and burnt umber for the darker areas of the fence and shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color layering
- ·alla prima
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting lost in details too early in the process.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Oil paints (yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, viridian, burnt umber, titanium white)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Easel
- ·Medium (Liquin)
Use a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process. Consider using a medium to speed up the drying time of the oil paints.
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