plate no. 5276
Alice in the Lane
Lilla Cabot Perry, 1891
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create light and shadow. It will also provide practice in capturing a figure within a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, houses, and lane.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, foliage, ground, and buildings.
- step 03
Begin adding layers of color to the ground, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 04
Develop the foliage with varied greens, yellows, and browns, capturing the dappled light.
- step 05
Paint the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow on the dress and hat.
- step 06
Add details to the houses and fence, using warm and cool tones to create depth.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed.
- step 08
Add final details, such as the small red flowers and highlights.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium yellow
secondary · burnt umber · alizarin crimson · viridian green
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows with touches of burnt umber. Create the lavender hues in the dress by mixing ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson with white. Use yellow ochre and white to achieve the sunlit areas of the lane.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·optical mixing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Neglecting the importance of light and shadow in creating form.
- →Focusing too much on detail early in the process.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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