plate no. 0570

Country girl on the balcony

oilRealismgenre paintingfigurebalconyplantspotsfoliageflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing subtle variations in light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in painting foliage and rendering textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, balcony, and plant pots.
step 02
Establish the background foliage with broad strokes of dark greens and browns.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, using light and shadow to define the form.
step 04
Paint the balcony railing and plant pots, paying attention to their textures and colors.
step 05
Add details to the figure's clothing and facial features.
step 06
Introduce the red flowers and other small details in the background.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · sap green

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining sap green with burnt umber and yellow ochre. Achieve skin tones by blending raw sienna, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue to darken shadows.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·chiaroscuro
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated and unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, sap green, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags