plate no. 7339

Slovak Girls

Marianne Stokes, 1905

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitfiguresgirlspitchershawlportraitbasket

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a focal point through composition and value.

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 figures and the pitcher.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, shawl, red head coverings, background.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the folds and shadows in the shawl, using a limited palette of whites and grays.
step 05
Paint the details of the pitcher, including the decorative elements.
step 06
Add details to the faces, focusing on the eyes and mouths.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
step 08
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Achieve the shawl's color by mixing white with small amounts of umber and blue for shadows.

techniques