plate no. 0018

At the well

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitgirlpitcherfoliagewellfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate skin tone mixing and rendering of soft light and shadow. They will also learn to depict textures and details in clothing and objects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and pitcher.
step 02
Establish the background foliage with loose, varied greens.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, pitcher, and stone base with thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, paying close attention to subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the texture of the fabric and the folds.
step 06
Refine the pitcher, capturing its shape, color variations, and highlights.
step 07
Add final details to the face, including the eyes, lips, and hair.
step 08
Adjust values and colors throughout the painting to create a harmonious and realistic effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Greens are created by mixing yellow ochre, viridian, and a touch of blue or umber for darker shades.

techniques