plate no. 1140
A Peasant girl from Tver
Alexey Venetsianov, 1840
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as rendering realistic fabric and foliage.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on accurate proportions of the figure and placement of key elements.
- step 02
Establish the background foliage with broad, dark green tones, gradually adding lighter highlights to create depth.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the face, arms, and clothing, using a limited palette of skin tones and whites.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone and the play of light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the folds and wrinkles in the fabric, and the decorative trim on the straps.
- step 06
Paint the wooden rail, capturing its texture and form with careful attention to light and shadow.
- step 07
Add the small flowers in the foreground, using delicate brushstrokes to capture their delicate details.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced and harmonious.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Darken greens with umber and blue, lighten with yellow.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figure, especially the face.
- →Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
- →Lack of depth in the background foliage.
- →Ignoring subtle variations in light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium such as linseed oil can be used to thin the paints and improve blending.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
