plate no. 0390
Soldat Convalescent Assis
Theophile Steinlen, 1916
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice capturing a figure's pose and drapery with loose brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to study limited color palettes and create a sense of depth through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the bench.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of muted greens and grays.
- step 03
Establish the main values of the figure's coat and hat using a mix of browns and blues.
- step 04
Add details to the face, focusing on capturing the light and shadow.
- step 05
Define the folds and creases in the coat with darker values.
- step 06
Paint the bench and the surrounding area, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix browns by combining burnt umber and raw sienna. Muted greens can be achieved by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue with white. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·figure drawing
- ·drapery study
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive brushstrokes.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in tone and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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