plate no. 1995
William Rush Carving His Allegorical Figure of the Schuylkill River
Thomas Eakins, 1908
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students understand the use of a limited palette and how to create depth and form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering the human figure and capturing the atmosphere of an interior space.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition and placement of the figures and objects.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a thin wash of burnt umber or raw sienna.
- step 03
Gradually build up the darker areas, paying attention to the shadows and form.
- step 04
Introduce lighter tones to define the highlights and create a sense of volume.
- step 05
Refine the details of the figures and objects, focusing on accurate proportions and anatomical details.
- step 06
Add texture and interest to the background and foreground using broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
The painting relies heavily on mixing variations of browns and grays. Use white to lighten the browns and black to darken them. A touch of yellow ochre can add warmth, while a touch of red can create subtle variations in skin tones.
techniques
- ·grisaille underpainting
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figures
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use a high-quality canvas primed with oil-based primer for best results. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of burnt umber) to establish a base tone.
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