plate no. 1755
State of Emergency
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes and using loose brushwork to create a sense of movement and atmosphere. Students will also learn to create depth by varying the level of detail and contrast in different areas of the painting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the line of police officers.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of color, starting with the background buildings and the ground.
- step 03
Add the darker values to define the figures and create contrast.
- step 04
Begin to refine the details of the figure in the foreground, paying attention to the plaid pattern of the shirt.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
- step 06
Use loose brushstrokes to suggest the crowd of police officers in the background.
- step 07
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
- step 08
Sign your work.
color palette
primary · red · blue · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · white · black · green
Mix various shades of gray and blue for the police officers. Use red and yellow ochre to create the warm tones of the ground and the figure's shirt. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
- →Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the foreground and background.
- →Making the background figures too detailed.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Rags
- ·Easel
optional
- ·Medium (for oil paints)
- ·Varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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