plate no. 4883
Mother Jeanne Nursing Her Baby
Mary Cassatt, 1908
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing figure drawing, capturing soft light, and creating a sense of intimacy. Students will learn to use pastel strokes to build form and suggest texture.
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 and proportions of the mother and baby.
- step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes of pastel.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the figures, focusing on the light and shadow.
- step 04
Begin to refine the forms, adding details to the faces and clothing.
- step 05
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and texture.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend colors with your fingers or a blending stump.
- step 07
Add highlights and details to the eyes and other focal points.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches.
color palette
primary · white · red · blue · brown
secondary · orange · gray
Mix pinks by blending red and white. Use layers of blue and brown for the background. Achieve skin tones by layering pink, white, and brown.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending and losing the vibrancy of the pastel strokes.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Not establishing a clear light source.
- →Using too much pressure and muddying the colors.
materials
surface · Toned pastel paper
required
- ·Pastel sticks (various colors)
- ·Pastel paper (toned)
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Blending stump
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Pencil
- ·Ruler
optional
- ·Workable fixative
- ·Easel
- ·Soft cloth
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly rough texture to grip the pastel. A toned paper will help to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
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