In this chapter, we delve into the world of John Singer Sargent, one of my favorite artists and a master of both portrait and landscape painting. Sargent's journey began in Florence, Italy, where he was born in 1856 to American expatriates. His early exposure to Europe's rich artistic heritage shaped his incredible talent, which he honed at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. By the age of 18, he was already creating remarkable works. Sargent's reputation as the finest portrait artist of his era was well-earned, yet in his later years, he turned his focus to landscapes, often incorporating figures into these scenes. One such painting, created in the idyllic setting of San Virgilio on Lake Garda, Italy, stands out as a personal favorite of mine. Painted in 1913, just before the outbreak of war in Europe, this piece captures a serene and timeless beauty. In this lesson, we'll explore Sargent's techniques by recreating this masterpiece. You'll learn how to prepare your canvas, sketch the composition, and capture the essence of Sargent's style. Let's embark on this journey together and see what we can learn from Sargent's genius.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Carefully examine the photograph of Sargent's work to understand how he modulated color in the painting. Notice the subtle variations and reflections of the sky and water in the surface.
Experiment with Color
Introduce a bit of green to your painting to mimic the reflections. Be cautious, as a strong green may not be suitable and can overpower the intended effect.
Check Value Differences
Switch to a black and white version of your painting to assess the value differences. Ensure that the value in the area of reflected light remains very close to the surrounding colors, as Sargent did.
Adjust and Retry
If the color appears too green or incorrect, scrape it off and try again. Embrace the process of adjustment, as Sargent often did, to achieve the desired effect.
Pro tipUse a black and white version to check minimal value differences in your painting.
Begin your painting journey by preparing a smooth canvas, which will enhance the visibility of your brush strokes. Start with a neutral grey tone to provide a balanced backdrop for your composition. Sketch your main elements lightly with charcoal, setting the stage for your painting with careful attention to the placement of key features.
Embrace Sargent's style by using long, fluid brush strokes and selecting larger brushes than you might initially consider. This approach allows you to cover the canvas efficiently and capture the elegance of Sargent's calligraphic brushwork. Choose a modern palette inspired by Sargent's colors, but focus on the hues that best capture the essence of your scene.
As you progress, work with generous amounts of paint to allow for rich color flow. Pay attention to the interplay of light and shadow, starting with mid-tones and gradually working towards the extremes. Use glazing techniques to add depth and interest, and embrace unconventional compositions to capture a moment in time. Throughout, learn from Sargent's mastery by adjusting colors and values to achieve the desired effect.
Points to remember
Use a smooth canvas to enhance brush stroke visibility.
Focus on creating long, fluid strokes to emulate Sargent's style.
Use larger brushes than you think necessary to cover the canvas efficiently.
Don't feel obligated to use every color on your palette; select those that best capture the essence of your scene.
Mix equal parts titanium white and zinc white with a touch of oil to create a versatile permalba white substitute.
Use a generous amount of paint to enhance color flow and richness.
Start with mid-tones and gradually work towards the darkest darks and lightest lights to maintain color vibrancy and avoid false accents.
Use small flicks of the brush to create dynamic textures instead of a solid line.
