plate no. 9358
St Genevieve
Charles Sprague Pearce, 1887
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures in a landscape setting and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, sheep, and buildings.
- step 02
Establish the background sky and distant landscape with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and sheep, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 04
Begin to develop the figure's form, starting with the overall shape and then adding details like the face and clothing.
- step 05
Add details to the sheep, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest their woolly texture.
- step 06
Work on the foreground grass and plants, varying the colors and textures to create a sense of depth.
- step 07
Refine the details of the figure, buildings, and sheep, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light
Mix muted greens by combining Prussian blue, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the skin tones by mixing titanium white, burnt sienna, and a small amount of cadmium yellow light.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the painting process.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and perspective.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, Prussian blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow light)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Palette knife
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Painting medium
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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