plate no. 7654
The Holiday Group
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, capturing light and shadow on skin tones, and creating a sense of atmosphere with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes and focusing on essential details.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a rough sketch to establish the composition and placement of figures.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the clothing and background, using loose brushstrokes to suggest detail.
- step 05
Refine the facial features and add highlights to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Add details to the background to suggest the beach and distant figures.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a harmonious composition.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the sense of light and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · ivory black
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the muted greens and browns by mixing umber, blue, and yellow. Use black sparingly to darken values.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Getting the skin tones too saturated or unnatural.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of light and shadow.
- →Not simplifying the background and making it too distracting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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