plate no. 2136

Dame Maud Mccarthy Gbe Rrc- the Matron-in-chief in France of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfiguredeskflowershatuniform

some experience helpful

This painting offers a chance to practice portraiture and rendering of fabric textures. Students can develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and the muted palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure, desk, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a light wash or thin layer of paint.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Define the details of the uniform, including the medals and embellishments.
step 05
Paint the desk and other objects, focusing on their form and texture.
step 06
Add the flowers, capturing their delicate petals and leaves.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the overall composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the realism and depth.

color palette

primary · gray · flesh tones · brown · red

secondary · green · gold · white

Mix skin tones using a combination of red, yellow, blue, and white. Achieve the muted grays by mixing complementary colors like blue and orange or green and red.

techniques