plate no. 0876

The Summer

oil, canvasAcademicismallegorical paintingfigureportraitolive wreathfruitdraperyallegory

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending, as well as drapery rendering and creating a sense of depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, drapery, background.
step 03
Start building up the skin tones with thin layers of paint, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the drapery, creating folds and highlights with subtle color variations.
step 06
Paint the olive wreath, adding details to the leaves and olives.
step 07
Add the fruit, paying attention to the light and shadow on their surfaces.
step 08
Refine the background and add any final details.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · alizarin crimson · viridian

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and white for the cooler tones in the drapery. Mix greens from blue and yellow for the leaves, adding burnt umber for muted tones.

techniques