plate no. 2260
The Piano
Thomas Dewing, 1891
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing and creating atmospheric perspective through soft edges and blended tones. It also provides practice in rendering realistic form with limited detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted paint.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the background, figure, and piano.
- step 04
Begin layering colors, blending edges to create soft transitions.
- step 05
Refine the details of the figure's face and dress, using subtle value changes.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the piano to define its form.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Achieve the subtle tones by mixing small amounts of the primary colors with white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to warm up the browns for the piano.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·soft blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the soft, atmospheric effect.
- →Using too much contrast, which can make the painting look harsh.
- →Failing to blend edges properly, resulting in a choppy appearance.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for smooth blending. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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