plate no. 3427
Ballerina
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing the essence of a subject rather than photorealistic detail. It's a good exercise in expressive painting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of green, varying the tones slightly.
- step 03
Establish the main areas of color: red for the dress, white for the tutu, and darker tones for the hair and shadows.
- step 04
Begin adding layers of paint, focusing on the light and shadow on the figure.
- step 05
Use short, visible brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
- step 06
Mix subtle variations of skin tones and apply them to the face and body.
- step 07
Add details to the tutu, using white and hints of other colors to suggest its transparency.
- step 08
Refine the edges and add final touches to the composition.
color palette
primary · cadmium red · titanium white · sap green
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber
Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use blue and umber to create darker tones for shadows and hair. Mix greens with yellow and blue, adding white for highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·color temperature
- ·expressive brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
- →Making the skin tones too flat or uniform.
- →Failing to capture the light and shadow on the figure.
- →Using too much detail in the background, distracting from the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Acrylics will dry faster, but oils allow for more blending time.
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