plate no. 4657
The charity
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures and clothing folds, as well as creating depth through subtle value changes and atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 40 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and objects.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
- step 03
Begin to build up the values and refine the forms, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Work on the details of the faces and clothing, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Refine the background and foreground elements, ensuring they complement the main subject.
- step 07
Glaze layers to unify colors and adjust values.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust contrasts.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · Prussian blue
Mix browns and grays by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, and white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to warm up the browns and add subtle color variations.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →overworking the details too early
- →getting the proportions wrong
- →not paying attention to the light source
- →muddying the colors
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
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