plate no. 7548

Mom With Apples

Jessie Willcox Smith, 1929

mixed mediaRomanticismillustrationmotherchildapplesfiguresapronbag

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, color mixing for skin tones and fabrics, and creating a sense of depth through layering and subtle shading. Pay attention to the proportions of the figures and the drapery of the clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and the arrangement of the apples.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of yellow ochre or a similar hue.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figures' clothing, hair, and skin, using simplified shapes.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and add details to the faces and clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 05
Mix and apply the colors for the apples, focusing on capturing their roundness and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the apron and the bag, including the floral pattern and the shadows within the bag.
step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting values and adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details, such as the necklace and the stripes on the child's socks.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · cadmium red · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create skin tones by mixing burnt umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. Adjust the values by adding more white or umber.

techniques

·color layering
·blending
·scumbling
·hatching

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or intense.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value within the figures' clothing and skin.