plate no. 2687
SunBlock
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, color mixing to achieve warm skin tones, and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. Students will also learn to create a sense of light and shadow using a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and the sun.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of color.
- step 03
Start layering in the skin tones, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Add details to the faces, hair, and ball.
- step 05
Paint the sun and its rays, using a combination of yellows and oranges.
- step 06
Refine the details and add any final touches.
- step 07
Allow to dry completely.
- step 08
Varnish for protection.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light · raw umber
Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna with white for the skin tones. Add a touch of blue to create cooler shadows. Use cadmium yellow light for the sun and mix with white for highlights.
techniques
- ·color blending
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·figure drawing
- ·simplified forms
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the skin tones with too many colors.
- →Losing the proportions of the figures.
- →Making the sun too overpowering.
- →Not blending the colors smoothly enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits (for oil paints)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·color wheel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. If using acrylics, consider using a slow-drying medium to allow for more blending time.
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