plate no. 8257
Praying peasant girl in the woods
Carl Spitzweg, 1855
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as rendering figures in a landscape setting with soft, diffused light.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, shrine, and bench.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of earth tones.
- step 03
Block in the dark areas of the foliage and the shadows on the path.
- step 04
Begin layering lighter tones to create the effect of sunlight filtering through the trees.
- step 05
Add details to the figure, paying attention to the folds of the clothing and the highlights on the hair.
- step 06
Refine the details of the shrine and the objects on the bench.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · Prussian blue
secondary · cadmium red · titanium white · sap green
Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, Prussian blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Making the colors too bright and unnatural.
- →Failing to create a convincing sense of depth.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·Prussian blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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