plate no. 6699
Waltz
Anders Zorn, 1891
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing movement with loose brushstrokes and creating atmosphere with limited color palettes and strong value contrasts. Students will also learn to suggest details rather than rendering them precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition and placement of figures.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of dark and light values using thinned paint.
- step 03
Focus on the floor and the light source to establish the overall mood.
- step 04
Develop the figures, paying attention to the gesture and flow of movement.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing and faces, keeping the brushstrokes loose and expressive.
- step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Achieve the warm tones by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use white to create highlights and lighter values, and black to deepen shadows.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·broken color
- ·implied detail
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the sense of movement.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to establish a strong value contrast.
- →Making the figures too static and stiff.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned ground to speed up the painting process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
