plate no. 3447

Boy with Red Peonies

Robert Lewis Reid, 1910

oilImpressionismportraitfigureflowersportraitgardenpeonieschild

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It will also improve their ability to capture the likeness of a subject within a complex floral environment.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the main flower groups.
step 02
Establish the background with loose, broken brushstrokes of blues and greens.
step 03
Block in the general shapes and values of the flowers using pinks, reds, and whites.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the flowers, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 05
Paint the figure, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value on the face and clothing.
step 06
Add details to the figure, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a harmonious whole.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the flowers and figure to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · rose madder · cerulean blue · lemon yellow · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of pink by combining rose madder and titanium white. Achieve greens by mixing cerulean blue and lemon yellow. Use yellow ochre to warm up the pinks and greens.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the figure.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·assorted round and flat brushes
·palette knife
·oil paints (rose madder, cerulean blue, lemon yellow, titanium white, viridian green, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette