plate no. 6985

The Broken Pitcher

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitfigurewater pumppitcherlandscapestepsplaid shawl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate skin tone mixing and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and objects.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the face, arms, and clothing.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle color variations to create form and depth.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the shawl and dress.
step 06
Paint the water pump and pitcher, paying attention to their form and texture.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the highlights in the eyes and the small plants in the foreground.
step 08
Glaze and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved through subtle mixes of burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white. The dark dress is a mix of ultramarine blue and burnt umber. The green pitcher is a mix of viridian green, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the figure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Creating harsh lines and edges, rather than soft transitions.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, viridian green, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags