plate no. 1970
Little Girls with a Cod
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in capturing realistic skin tones and rendering soft, diffused light. Students can learn to simplify complex forms and create depth through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and the fish.
- step 02
Establish the background and the overall light source.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures, focusing on the large shapes of clothing and skin.
- step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as folds and shadows.
- step 06
Paint the fish, capturing its texture and form.
- step 07
Add details to the background, such as the kitchen items and the doorway.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add final touches.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · viridian · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix skin tones using white, red, and a touch of yellow ochre and umber. Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian with umber and white.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Failing to capture the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
- →Ignoring the overall light and shadow patterns.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·viridian oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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