plate no. 2556
William Poel
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, atmospheric perspective, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value and color changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and textures with loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and placement within the landscape.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad washes of color, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, using darker values for the clothing and lighter values for the skin.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as folds and wrinkles, using a variety of brushstrokes.
- step 06
Develop the landscape further, adding details to the trees, river, and hills.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of harmony and balance.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use yellow ochre to warm up the browns and create highlights.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, which can make the painting look stiff and unnatural.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure, which can make the painting look flat.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can clash with the overall muted palette.
- →Neglecting the atmospheric perspective, which can make the landscape look unrealistic.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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