plate no. 3634

Old Woman Watering Flowers

oil, panelBaroquegenre paintingfigurewindowplantpotbirdcagepitcher

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering textures of different materials (skin, fabric, clay), and understanding light and shadow to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, window, plant, and birdcage.
step 02
Establish the dark background and the overall value structure of the painting.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figure's clothing, skin tones, and the terracotta pot.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone and the wrinkles.
step 05
Develop the textures of the clothing, the terracotta pot, and the wooden birdcage using layering and glazing techniques.
step 06
Add the details of the plant, including the leaves and flowers.
step 07
Refine the light and shadow, paying attention to the direction of the light source.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, and a touch of yellow ochre and umber. Use ultramarine and burnt umber to create dark shadows. Create the terracotta color by mixing burnt sienna and a touch of red.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·rendering textures

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife