plate no. 2032

Soldiers Resting in a Village, a Cavalry Officer Holding An Austrian Banner

oilRomanticismgenre paintingsoldiershorsesvillagebuildingsfigureschildren

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, perspective, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also offers practice in rendering different textures and materials, such as fabric, wood, and metal.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and forms with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the values, focusing on the areas of greatest contrast.
step 04
Develop the figures, paying attention to anatomy and proportion.
step 05
Add details to the buildings and landscape, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, blending and glazing as needed.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Varnish the painting to protect it and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Achieve the red uniforms by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of figures
→Lack of depth and perspective
→Muddy colors
→Overworking the details
→Ignoring the light source

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red, raw sienna, ivory black)
·Linseed oil
·Turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags