plate no. 9725
Solitude
Mario Sironi, 1926
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, particularly rendering skin tones and drapery, and understanding chiaroscuro to create depth and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the figure, window, and architectural elements.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Model the drapery, focusing on the folds and highlights.
- step 05
Refine the architectural details and the view through the window.
- step 06
Add details to the face and hands, capturing the expression and gesture.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and contrast to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and white for the base skin tones, adding touches of burnt sienna for warmth and ultramarine blue for shadows. Use yellow ochre and white for highlights on the drapery.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·figure drawing
- ·drapery rendering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
- →Creating overly harsh or abrupt transitions between light and shadow.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
Use a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base value.
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