plate no. 3645
Nannies in the National Garden
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing figures in a landscape and using a limited palette to create a harmonious composition. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and landscape elements, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the background and working forward.
- step 03
Develop the values and forms of the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 04
Add details to the faces and clothing, using smaller brushes.
- step 05
Refine the background details, such as the trees and foliage.
- step 06
Add texture and interest with visible brushstrokes, especially in the foreground.
- step 07
Glaze over areas to unify the colors and create depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and ivory black with titanium white. Use cadmium red light to create the red clothing, and yellow ochre for highlights and warm tones.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the importance of brushstroke direction.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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