plate no. 6937

Three ages

Fedir Krychevsky, 1913

oil, woodArt Nouveau (Modern)allegorical paintingfiguresportraitsheadscarvesclothingfaceswomen

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing subtle skin tones and rendering complex textures in clothing. It also provides practice in creating depth and dimension through layering and blending.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and their head coverings.
step 02
Establish the overall composition and placement of the figures on the canvas.
step 03
Apply a thin underpainting using burnt umber or a similar earth tone to define the shadows and values.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the head coverings, paying close attention to the intricate patterns and textures.
step 06
Develop the details of the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall realism and depth.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cooler shadows. Mix yellow ochre with white and a touch of red for highlights on the head coverings.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·layering
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them properly.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife