plate no. 9678

Maternity

canvas, oilAcademicismgenre paintingfigureschildreninteriorwindowlaundry basketclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure painting, and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the values, focusing on the areas of greatest contrast.
step 04
Develop the skin tones, using a limited palette of colors and blending carefully.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the background and foreground, such as the window, laundry basket, and floor.
step 07
Refine the details of the faces, focusing on the eyes and mouths.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson or yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create a range of dark browns and grays for the clothing and background.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro
·underpainting

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags