plate no. 5815
The Dancers (also known as Eternal Summer, Wiesbaden)
Maurice Denis, 1905
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying forms and using a limited color palette to create a harmonious composition. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a stylized manner.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
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 figures and the vertical lines of the trees.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the green background, and the figures' dresses.
- step 03
Add the pink tones to the tree trunks and the shadows on the dresses.
- step 04
Define the shapes of the trees and the distant hills with darker greens and blues.
- step 05
Add details to the figures, such as the wreaths and the folds in their dresses.
- step 06
Paint the ground with varying shades of green and add small white dots for the flowers.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the shapes and add any final details.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
color palette
primary · titanium white · sap green · cadmium red · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber
Mix greens by blending sap green with yellow ochre or ultramarine blue. Achieve the pink tones by mixing cadmium red with titanium white. Use raw umber to create darker shades for shadows.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·simplified forms
- ·color blocking
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplified style.
- →Using too many colors and creating a discordant palette.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·titanium white acrylic paint
- ·sap green acrylic paint
- ·cadmium red acrylic paint
- ·ultramarine blue acrylic paint
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, 6
- ·flat brushes size 4, 8
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylic paints are recommended for beginners due to their fast drying time and ease of use.
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