plate no. 7342
Girl with basket of plums
Émile Munier, 1875
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as blending techniques to achieve smooth transitions.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, basket, and background.
- step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, dress, and basket.
- step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, focusing on subtle highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, creating soft, flowing strands.
- step 06
Work on the dress, capturing the folds and textures.
- step 07
Paint the basket and plums, paying attention to their form and color variations.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · alizarin crimson
secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · raw sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark background.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure.
- →Overly harsh or unnatural skin tones.
- →Lack of depth and dimension in the basket and plums.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations in the dress.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before painting.
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