plate no. 1393
The return of the penitent
Luke Fildes, 1879
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and creating atmospheric perspective through subtle color and value changes. It also provides practice in rendering textures of different materials like clothing, buildings, and foliage.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of major elements.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the sky and background elements, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Develop the figures, starting with the larger forms and gradually adding details.
- step 05
Work on the building and surrounding foliage, focusing on texture and light.
- step 06
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and interest.
- step 07
Glaze over areas to unify the color palette and create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · sap green
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of other colors. Use glazes of transparent colors to create depth and atmosphere.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Getting lost in details too early before establishing the overall composition.
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Inaccurate proportions of figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, sap green)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a toned canvas to start with a mid-value ground.
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