plate no. 4499
La Communiante
Jules Bastien-Lepage, 1875
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing, portraiture, and rendering delicate fabrics. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form using limited value contrast.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and dress.
- step 02
Establish the background tone with a thin wash of grey.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress with light grey and white mixtures, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, using subtle variations in skin tone.
- step 05
Add details to the dress, such as lace and ribbons, using small brushstrokes.
- step 06
Paint the veil with thin, transparent layers of white and grey.
- step 07
Refine the hands and gloves, paying attention to the subtle shadows and highlights.
- step 08
Add final details, such as the necklace and floral crown.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
The painting relies heavily on mixing white with small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations in tone. Use raw umber and ivory black to create a range of greys. Add a touch of yellow ochre or burnt sienna to warm the skin tones.
techniques
- ·grisaille underpainting
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·subtle blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating too much contrast, which can make the painting look harsh.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of the skin tone.
- →Making the dress look flat and lifeless.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
A smooth canvas surface will be ideal for achieving the subtle blending in this painting. Consider using a pre-primed canvas or applying several layers of gesso.
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