plate no. 5055
La Vierge Aux Lys
Carlos Schwabe, 1899
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex floral arrangements, atmospheric perspective, and subtle value gradations to create a dreamlike quality. It also provides practice in depicting figures with flowing drapery.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, the river, and the lily field.
- step 02
Establish the basic value structure, blocking in the darks of the distant landscape and the lights of the sky and lilies.
- step 03
Begin layering colors, starting with the darker blues and grays in the background and gradually building up to the lighter whites and blues in the foreground.
- step 04
Develop the details of the lilies, paying attention to the shapes and forms of the individual petals and stems.
- step 05
Refine the figure, focusing on the drapery and the subtle modeling of the face and hands.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a luminous effect.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · payne's gray · raw umber · yellow ochre
Achieve the cool, ethereal tones by mixing ultramarine blue with white and small amounts of black. Use yellow ochre to warm up certain areas and create subtle variations in color.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering drapery
- ·floral rendering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Using too much color and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 6, 8)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will be easier to work with for glazing.
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