plate no. 6888
Wintertime
Haddon Sundblom, 1950
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. Students will also learn to create depth and form using subtle value changes and soft brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and background elements, paying attention to proportions and composition.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the main areas of color with thin washes.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones of the figures, using a limited palette of warm and cool colors.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
- step 05
Add the details of the flower, flag, and other small elements.
- step 06
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a cohesive and harmonious whole.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · viridian
Mix skin tones using raw umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Achieve the blue of the shirt by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of raw umber to mute it. Use viridian and yellow ochre for the green dress.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#2 filbert brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth and luminosity of the colors.
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