plate no. 9933
Maternité
Maria Blanchard, 1924
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to use light and shadow to create form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
- step 03
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Add details to the clothing and background, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subjects.
- step 06
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
- step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix skin tones by blending white, red, and umber, adding small amounts of yellow or blue to adjust the color. Use black and umber to create shadows and depth.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations in color.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- →Not paying enough attention to the details of the facial features.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium can be used to thin the paint and speed up drying time.
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