plate no. 1539
The sleeping spinner
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict form using chiaroscuro and how to create a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited palette. It also provides practice in painting figures in a realistic style.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the spinning wheel.
- step 02
Establish the dark background tones with a thin wash of burnt umber and black.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and the spinning wheel with mid-tones.
- step 04
Begin to build up the highlights and shadows on the figure, paying attention to the light source.
- step 05
Add details to the face and hands, using subtle variations in color and value.
- step 06
Refine the details of the spinning wheel, using a small brush to create the intricate spokes.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · raw sienna · red ochre
Mix browns and blacks to create the dark background. Use white to create highlights and lighter tones. Mix red ochre with browns for the skin tones.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much color and losing the overall tonal harmony.
- →Not paying attention to the light source and creating inconsistent shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·red ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned ground to help establish the overall values.
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