plate no. 1632
A summer rose
George Elgar Hicks, 1910
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering skin tones and soft lighting, as well as capturing the texture of fabric and flowers with visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the roses.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, dress, background, and flowers.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle color variations to create form.
- step 04
Develop the details of the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Work on the dress, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
- step 06
Paint the roses, capturing their individual shapes and colors.
- step 07
Refine the background, adding texture and subtle color variations.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre
secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · raw sienna
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve rose colors by mixing alizarin crimson with white and a touch of yellow ochre or burnt umber.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
- →Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.
- →Getting lost in details too early in the process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a good quality canvas and oil paints for best results. Allow each layer of paint to dry before applying the next.
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