plate no. 6735
Femme en Pied
Leon Spilliaert, 1902
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in tonal painting, figure drawing, and creating a sense of atmosphere with limited colors. It also provides practice in capturing subtle variations in value to create form.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the figure's basic proportions and pose, paying attention to the overall composition.
- step 02
Establish the background curtain with diluted washes of grey, allowing for variations in tone.
- step 03
Block in the dark areas of the dress and shoes with a darker value of grey/black, leaving highlights.
- step 04
Refine the figure's features, using subtle shading to define the face and hands.
- step 05
Add the thin dark line across the background.
- step 06
Adjust values and edges to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add any final details, such as the button on the dress.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · none
Mix blacks and greys by combining ivory black and raw umber with varying amounts of titanium white. Use more water or thinner for washes.
techniques
- ·tonal painting
- ·washes
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions
- →Not paying attention to proportions
- →Using too much paint
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper
- ·watercolor paints (black, umber, white)
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·water container
- ·palette
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·ruler
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.
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