plate no. 3491
Portrait of N. Zabela-Vrubel on the Edge of a Birch Grove
Mikhail Vrubel, 1904
charcoal, pastel, watercolor, paperArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitwomanbirch treesforesthatflowers
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering different media and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness with expressive lines and subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the woman's figure, the hat, and the overall composition of the birch trees.
- step 02
Establish the background by loosely applying watercolor washes to suggest the forest and sky.
- step 03
Use charcoal to define the birch tree trunks, paying attention to their verticality and spacing.
- step 04
Add pastel to the background to create depth and atmosphere, blending colors softly.
- step 05
Develop the woman's face and figure with charcoal, focusing on proportions and subtle shading.
- step 06
Use pastel to add color to the woman's hat and dress, blending to create soft transitions.
- step 07
Add details to the flowers with pastel and charcoal, capturing their texture and form.
- step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to balance the elements.
color palette
primary · white · gray · pink · green
secondary · brown · blue · purple
Mix grays by combining white and black charcoal. Achieve pinks by blending white and red pastel. Create subtle greens by mixing blue and yellow watercolor.
techniques
- ·charcoal sketching
- ·watercolor washes
- ·pastel blending
- ·layering media
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and flattening the background.
materials
surface · Toned paper or watercolor paper
required
- ·Charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
- ·Pastel sticks (various shades of pink, green, gray, brown)
- ·Watercolor paints (blue, yellow, white)
- ·Watercolor brushes (various sizes)
- ·Paper (toned or watercolor paper)
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Blending stumps or tortillons
optional
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Palette knife
- ·Ruler
Choose a paper with a slightly textured surface to better hold the charcoal and pastel. Toned paper can help to establish a mid-tone value.
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