plate no. 7972
Lily growing in a field by the sea
Grace Cossington Smith, 1927
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in applying visible brushstrokes to create texture and form, and in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in seemingly monochromatic subjects.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the lily, stem, fence, and background.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: green for the field, brown for the stem, white for the lily, and muted colors for the background.
- step 03
Start adding visible brushstrokes, following the direction of the forms to create texture and volume.
- step 04
Mix subtle variations of green and apply them to the field to create depth and interest.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to the lily petals using slightly different shades of white and gray.
- step 06
Define the fence and background details with short, deliberate brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details of the lily, paying attention to the shapes of the petals.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve a harmonious composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · sap green · burnt umber
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium red
Mix greens by combining sap green with yellow ochre or ultramarine blue. Create muted background colors by mixing complementary colors like ultramarine blue and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, which can flatten the image.
- →Ignoring the direction of brushstrokes, which can make the forms look unnatural.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can distract from the focal point.
- →Not observing the subtle color variations in the white lily petals.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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