plate no. 3263
Lili with a Feather Fan
Gerda Wegener, 1920
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabrics, and creating depth through layering and subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering textures like feathers and hair.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background elements.
- step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the skin, dress, hair, and background.
- step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones and shadows, focusing on the form of the figure.
- step 04
Add highlights to the skin, hair, and fabric to create dimension.
- step 05
Develop the details of the facial features, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Refine the background floral patterns and the feather fan, paying attention to color variations.
- step 07
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · rose madder · yellow ochre · ivory black
secondary · viridian green · cadmium red · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and rose madder, adding small amounts of blue or green to create shadows. Achieve the pink dress color by mixing white and rose madder. Darken colors with ivory black and create greens by mixing yellow and blue.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·rose madder oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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