plate no. 7436
Les gouvernantes
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing figures in a scene and using color to create a sense of light and shadow. It also encourages simplification of form and expressive brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the bench.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the background, the figures' clothing, and the bench.
- step 03
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the light and shadow on the figures and the ground.
- step 04
Add details such as the faces, the toy giraffe, and the umbrella.
- step 05
Develop the background with loose brushstrokes, suggesting the trees and foliage.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments.
- step 08
Add final touches and details.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White · Burnt Umber
secondary · Cadmium Red · Emerald Green · Payne's Grey
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and prussian blue, adjust with white. Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white, with small amounts of red for warmth. Use payne's grey and white for the grey clothing and bench.
techniques
- ·Blocking in
- ·Color mixing
- ·Layering
- ·Impasto
- ·Scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much detail
- →Not paying attention to the values
- →Making colors too saturated
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 16x20
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·Prussian Blue oil paint
- ·Yellow Ochre oil paint
- ·Titanium White oil paint
- ·Burnt Umber oil paint
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Medium gloss
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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