plate no. 5902
Nurse Reading to a Little Girl
Mary Cassatt, 1895
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing soft light and shadow, and in rendering figures with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere using pastel techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of green and yellow pastel, varying the pressure to create depth.
- step 03
Establish the basic values of the figures' clothing and skin tones, using light and dark shades of pastel.
- step 04
Develop the details of the faces, focusing on capturing the expressions and subtle color variations.
- step 05
Add details to the book and hands, paying attention to the way light interacts with the surfaces.
- step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights throughout the painting to create a sense of form and depth.
- step 07
Blend the pastel strokes where necessary to create soft transitions, but leave some visible texture.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to balance the composition and enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · green · blue · white · red
secondary · yellow · purple · orange
Mix greens with yellows and blues for the grass. Use purple and blue for shadows on the white dress. Mix orange and red for the hair.
techniques
- ·pastel blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·soft edges
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
- →Not paying attention to proportions of the figures.
materials
surface · pastel paper
required
- ·assorted soft pastels
- ·pastel paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·fixative spray
- ·blending stumps
- ·paper towels
- ·drawing board
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·workable fixative
- ·pastel pencils
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to grip the pastel. Use workable fixative sparingly to avoid darkening the colors.
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