plate no. 0231
HITTY by Rachel Field 10
Dorothy Lathrop, 1929
some experience helpful
This painting offers a chance to practice layering colors and creating soft, blended edges. Students can also develop skills in depicting organic shapes and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: figure, flowers, leaves, and animal.
- step 02
Block in the background colors with thin washes.
- step 03
Start layering colors on the figure, focusing on skin tones and clothing.
- step 04
Add details to the flowers, paying attention to petal shapes and highlights.
- step 05
Develop the leaves with varying shades of green and subtle veins.
- step 06
Paint the animal, focusing on its eyes and fur texture.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition by adding shadows and highlights.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · white · green · orange · yellow
secondary · pink · purple · brown
Mix greens by combining yellow and blue with touches of brown. Achieve skin tones by blending white, pink, and yellow. Use orange and yellow to create warm highlights on the flowers.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·color mixing
- ·rendering organic shapes
- ·creating soft edges
common pitfalls
- →overworking details too early
- →using colors straight from the tube without mixing
- →losing the overall composition by focusing too much on individual elements
- →not creating enough contrast
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints or acrylics
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·watercolor paper or canvas
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (for acrylics)
- ·kneaded eraser
Using a limited palette will help maintain color harmony. Practice color mixing on a separate sheet before applying to the final painting.
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