plate no. 1282
Chinese skirt
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the room's interior.
- step 02
Establish the main light source and block in the large areas of color, focusing on value relationships.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and temperature.
- step 04
Develop the details of the dress, bookshelf, and other objects, using loose brushstrokes.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
- step 08
Varnish the painting once dry.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix pinks by combining white with alizarin crimson and a touch of raw umber. Use ultramarine blue to create cool shadows and to mix with raw umber for darker tones.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch
- →Using too much detail in the background
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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