plate no. 7008
Study for The Jews' Wailing Place
Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1897
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow on textured surfaces and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a realistic yet expressive manner.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the perspective of the wall and the placement of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with diluted paint.
- step 03
Begin to refine the shapes of the wall stones, paying attention to the direction of light and shadow.
- step 04
Add the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details like clothing and head coverings.
- step 05
Introduce the secondary colors and subtle variations in the wall to create depth and interest.
- step 06
Refine the details of the figures, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 07
Add the small patches of greenery on the wall.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of atmosphere and realism.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson
Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber with varying amounts of white to achieve the different shades of the wall. Use ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson to create the darker tones in the figures and shadows.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of light and shadow.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure from the beginning.
- →Getting lost in the details of the figures before establishing their basic shapes.
- →Using too much detail on the wall, making it look flat.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to help create the rough texture of the wall. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
