plate no. 3072
Summer
Konstantin Somov, 1919
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and understanding atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and textures.
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 figures, trees, and water.
- step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, water, trees, and figures.
- step 03
Begin layering in details, starting with the background elements like the distant trees and figures in the water.
- step 04
Develop the foreground elements, including the grass, the figures' clothing, and the dog.
- step 05
Refine the details of the figures' faces and clothing, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value contrast.
- step 08
Add final details and touch-ups.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · alizarin crimson
secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · cadmium yellow light
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to create lighter tints. Achieve the skin tones by mixing reds, yellows, and white with small amounts of brown or blue for shadows.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the landscape.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium can be added to the paint to improve flow and blending.
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