plate no. 7703

A Girl Arranging a Vase of Flowers

oilRealismgenre paintingfigureflowersvasedressportraitstill life

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing light and shadow on the face, and in rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a focal point through value contrast and detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the figure, vase, and main shapes.
step 02
Establish the dark background using thin washes of dark browns and blacks.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figure's dress, skin, and head covering, focusing on value relationships.
step 04
Develop the form of the face, paying attention to subtle shifts in value to create depth.
step 05
Add the red corset, using a brighter red and blending the edges.
step 06
Paint the vase, capturing its rounded form and color variations.
step 07
Add the flowers, focusing on their shapes and colors, but keeping them relatively soft.
step 08
Refine details and add highlights to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and viridian to create the green of the vase. Muted pinks and purples can be created by mixing cadmium red with white and a touch of blue.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·scumbling
·glazing
·portraiture
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Making the colors too saturated.
→Losing the soft edges and subtle transitions.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, viridian, ivory black)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags