plate no. 6546

Before the coming of the sinful Queen

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, 1913

oilRomanticismillustrationflowersfoliagefiguresfairieslandscapeplants

experienced study

Recreating this painting would help students develop skills in layering complex foliage and rendering figures within a natural setting. It also encourages careful observation of subtle color variations in nature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main composition, focusing on the placement of the foxgloves and the overall arrangement of the foliage.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the general shapes and values of the larger leaves and plants.
step 04
Begin layering in details of the foliage, using a variety of greens, browns, and yellows.
step 05
Carefully render the foxglove flowers, paying attention to their shape and color variations.
step 06
Add the fairy figures, focusing on their delicate forms and subtle skin tones.
step 07
Refine the details of the foreground foliage and add any final highlights or shadows.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · sap green · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the various greens by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and titanium white. Create the pinks and reds of the foxgloves by mixing alizarin crimson with titanium white and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques