plate no. 9565
A half of a Virgin
Raphael Kirchner, 1901
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, particularly drapery and subtle shading, and in creating a harmonious limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, dress, and background.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the green background, the gold patterned area, and the white dress.
- step 03
Begin shading the dress to create folds and depth, using light and shadow.
- step 04
Add details to the face, hair, and hand, paying attention to the subtle curves and lines.
- step 05
Paint the flowers in the hand, using the gold color and adding highlights.
- step 06
Refine the background pattern with small dots and lines.
- step 07
Add any final details and touch-ups to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · pale green · gold · ivory
secondary · light brown
Achieve the pale green by mixing white with a touch of green. The gold can be a metallic paint or a mix of yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Ivory can be achieved by mixing white with a touch of yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
- ·hatching
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the dress, losing the sense of flow.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft shading.
- →Making the gold color too bright and overpowering.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas or paper
- ·Acrylic or oil paints (pale green, gold, ivory, light brown)
- ·Round brushes (small and medium)
- ·Flat brush
- ·Palette
- ·Water or solvent (depending on paint type)
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
Using a toned canvas (lightly tinted with a neutral color) can help with establishing values.
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