plate no. 8263
Peonies
Charles Courtney Curran, 1915
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing soft lighting and skin tones, as well as rendering complex floral forms with loose, impressionistic brushstrokes. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, flower arrangement, and background.
- step 02
Establish the basic skin tones and general color areas of the figure using thin washes.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the flowers, focusing on their overall form and color.
- step 04
Develop the background foliage with loose, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the flowers to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Adjust the overall composition and color balance to achieve a harmonious effect.
- step 08
Add final details and refine edges as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
secondary · viridian green · alizarin crimson · raw umber
Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red. Create the flower colors by mixing white with small amounts of yellow, red, and blue. Use viridian green and raw umber for the foliage.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·color layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones and flowers.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·rags or paper towels
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a painting medium to improve the flow and blending of the oil paints.
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