plate no. 8193

Dzvinka

Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1931

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremountainslandscapeclothingpitcher

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing to achieve muted tones and develop skills in depicting fabric folds and textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in portraiture and depicting a landscape background.

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 composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the background landscape with broad strokes, establishing the mountain range and sky.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Begin layering colors and details in the clothing, using short, visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Paint the pitcher, focusing on capturing its form and the subtle color variations in the glass.
step 06
Refine the background details, adding depth and atmosphere to the landscape.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to the figure and clothing to enhance the three-dimensionality.
step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to balance the painting.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · viridian

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white to soften the intensity. Use raw sienna and burnt umber as a base for many of the earth tones. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for darker shades.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·alla prima
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Neglecting the underlying sketch and losing the figure's proportions.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the clothing and background.
→Getting lost in details too early, before establishing the overall composition.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, which can make the painting look flat.