plate no. 4308

A Winter's Tale

John Everett Millais

watercolorRealismgenre paintingfiguresinteriorfamilyfurnitureclothingportrait

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the figures and furniture.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Begin with a light wash of color to establish the base tones of the background and larger forms.
step 04
Layer in darker values to define the shadows and create depth.
step 05
Develop the details of the figures, focusing on capturing accurate proportions and expressions.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, rendering the folds and textures with careful observation.
step 07
Refine the details of the furniture and other objects in the scene.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism and finish the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · payne's gray

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and yellow ochre. Use alizarin crimson to add warmth to skin tones and clothing.

techniques

·layering
·glazing
·dry brushing
·rendering folds
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of light and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated and creating a flat, unrealistic effect.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth and form.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·water container
·pencil
·eraser

optional

·masking fluid
·ruler
·kneaded eraser

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple layers of paint. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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