plate no. 9105
Sorry mom
Émile Munier, 1888
some experience helpful
This painting provides an opportunity to practice portraiture, including rendering skin tones and drapery. Students can also learn about creating a sense of intimacy and emotion through composition and subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the background colors with thin washes, paying attention to the subtle gradations.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, using a limited palette of warm and cool tones.
- step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, layering thin glazes to create depth and luminosity.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
- step 06
Paint the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and volume.
- step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the expressions of the figures.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create subtle grays for shadows. Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre or cadmium red for highlights.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Applying paint too thickly, obscuring the underlying layers.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of skin tones.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before beginning to paint.
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