plate no. 9743
The Edge of City
Kexin Di, 2008
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating realistic textures, particularly for rocks and clothing, and in capturing subtle atmospheric perspective in a landscape. Students will also learn to paint a portrait with realistic skin tones and hair.
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 figure and the main landscape elements.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral colors, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the landscape, starting with the background mountains and working forward.
- step 04
Begin to refine the details of the rocks and ground, using a variety of brushstrokes and colors to create texture.
- step 05
Paint the figure, starting with the face and then moving on to the clothing and hair.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
- step 07
Refine the details of the background, adding atmospheric perspective to create depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
color palette
primary · Payne's Gray · Titanium White · Burnt Umber
secondary · Yellow Ochre · Ultramarine Blue · Cadmium Red Light
Mix Payne's Gray and Titanium White for the sky and distant mountains. Use Burnt Umber and Yellow Ochre for the rocks and ground, adding touches of Ultramarine Blue and Cadmium Red Light for variation. Mix Burnt Umber with Cadmium Red Light and a touch of white for the skin tones.
techniques
- ·Underpainting
- ·Glazing
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Scumbling
- ·Layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
- →Not paying enough attention to the proportions of the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints (Payne's Gray, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Red Light)
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas with a neutral color can be helpful.
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