plate no. 7843
Flower Girl
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice figure painting with limited detail and capturing the effect of light on fabric. Students can also learn to simplify complex subjects like flowers using loose brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and the basket.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark, muted colors.
- step 03
Block in the main color masses for the figures' clothing, focusing on the overall values.
- step 04
Add the base colors for the flowers in the basket, keeping it loose and impressionistic.
- step 05
Develop the light and shadow on the figures' faces and clothing, paying attention to the direction of light.
- step 06
Refine the details of the flowers, adding highlights and variations in color.
- step 07
Add final touches to the background and edges to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Glaze the painting with a thin layer of medium to unify the colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · alizarin crimson
Mix various shades of gray and brown for the background and clothing. Use yellow ochre and white for the highlights on the figures. Mix cadmium red light and alizarin crimson for the pinks in the skirt and flowers.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, especially in the flowers.
- →Creating too much contrast, losing the subtle tonal variations.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Making the background too distracting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2-6
- ·flat brushes size 4-8
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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