plate no. 2194
Flowers of a West Australian Shrub and Kangaroo Feet
Marianne North, 1880
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in botanical illustration, color mixing for natural greens and reds, and creating depth through layering and detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the main floral elements and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky and sea with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the base colors for the foliage, using a mix of greens.
- step 04
Begin layering details on the main flowers, focusing on the shapes of the leaves and petals.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the foliage.
- step 06
Paint the details of the red flower, paying attention to the texture and individual elements.
- step 07
Refine the background details, including the distant trees and shrubs.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · sap green · cadmium red · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
Achieve the various green hues by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and titanium white; create the red flower color by mixing cadmium red with a touch of yellow ochre and burnt umber for depth.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·botanical illustration
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint and losing the transparency of the layers.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the highlights and shadows.
- →Getting the proportions of the flowers wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·retarder medium
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylic paints are recommended for their fast drying time and ease of use.
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