plate no. 8531
Girl in rose
Koloman Moser, 1898
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students understand the use of limited color palettes and how to create form using distinct tonal areas. It also provides practice in simplifying complex shapes like faces and foliage.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
1
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the girl's face, hair, and the surrounding roses and leaves.
- step 02
Establish the background with the yellow tone, leaving space for the dark foliage.
- step 03
Block in the dark areas of the hair, leaves, and shadows using the dark color.
- step 04
Apply the pinkish-red tone to the girl's face, neck, and the roses, defining the light areas.
- step 05
Refine the shapes of the roses and leaves, adding details to their forms.
- step 06
Add subtle shading to the face to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Clean up the edges and add any final details.
color palette
primary · pinkish-red · dark blue-black · yellow
secondary ·
The pinkish-red can be achieved by mixing red, white, and a touch of yellow. The dark color is a very dark blue or black.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·shape simplification
- ·tonal separation
- ·limited palette
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes of the roses and leaves.
- →Using too many colors.
- →Not establishing clear tonal separation.
- →Losing the overall simplicity of the design.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brush #4
- ·flat brush #6
- ·palette
- ·pinkish-red paint
- ·dark blue-black paint
- ·yellow paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
Use a smooth canvas to achieve a flat, graphic look. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils will allow for more blending time.
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