plate no. 3140
Solitaire
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, still life painting, and creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering different textures, such as skin, fabric, and wood.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of key elements.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the background, figure, and still life elements.
- step 04
Begin refining the figure's features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create form.
- step 05
Develop the details of the still life elements, such as the plate of marbles, glass, and flowers.
- step 06
Work on the textures of the scarf, clothing, and wooden table, using varied brushstrokes.
- step 07
Adjust the lighting and shadows to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · sap green
Achieve the skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Create the dark tones by mixing ivory black and burnt umber. The red in the scarf can be achieved by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber and white for highlights.
techniques
- ·Underpainting
- ·Glazing
- ·Scumbling
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·Oil paints (burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, sap green)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Palette knife
optional
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·Varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the underpainting process.
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