plate no. 9199
Young peasant woman at the well
Silvestro Lega, 1864
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering form with subtle value changes and capturing atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the well, figure, and horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the main light source and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the well, figure, and background with their local colors.
- step 04
Develop the form of the well using layers of warm and cool browns, paying attention to the texture.
- step 05
Refine the figure's form and clothing with subtle value gradations and color variations.
- step 06
Paint the background landscape, using lighter values and softer edges to create depth.
- step 07
Add details such as the trees, bucket, and any highlights.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Achieve the earthy tones by mixing burnt umber with raw sienna and white. Use ultramarine blue and yellow ochre to create muted greens for the landscape. Add small amounts of black to darken shadows.
techniques
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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