plate no. 3675

Flower Seller

oilImpressionismportraitfigureflowersbuildingladderportraitheadscarf

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve nuanced hues and learn to apply visible brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in capturing the human figure in a relaxed pose.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, the background building, and the ladder.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the background, figure's clothing, and flowers.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the figure, focusing on capturing the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 05
Develop the texture of the clothing with short, visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the flowers, using a variety of colors and values to create depth.
step 07
Add the ladder and background details, maintaining the loose, impressionistic style.
step 08
Refine the painting, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a cohesive whole.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · alizarin crimson · sap green

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the figure's jacket. Use ultramarine blue and white for the headscarf. Create various shades of pink and red for the flowers by mixing alizarin crimson with white and a touch of yellow.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Neglecting the subtle shifts in value that create form.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, alizarin crimson, sap green)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags