plate no. 6621

Daughters of the Stars, by Mary Crary

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)illustrationfiguresstarsnight skyfoliagearchitecturemoon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, creating a sense of depth with color, and rendering detailed patterns. It also provides practice in achieving smooth gradients and subtle color transitions.

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 figures, building, and moon.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the night sky, the moon, the foliage, and the figures' clothing.
step 03
Begin to refine the shapes of the figures and the building, adding details like facial features and architectural elements.
step 04
Add the star patterns on the clothing, paying attention to their placement and size.
step 05
Create the star field in the night sky, varying the size and brightness of the stars.
step 06
Refine the foliage, adding details to the leaves and creating a sense of depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · white · yellow ochre

secondary · purple · green · gold

Mix ultramarine blue and white for the night sky, adding small amounts of yellow ochre to create variations in tone. Mix greens from blue and yellow. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques