plate no. 2916
The daughter of a fisherman
Kuzmá Petrov-Vodkin, 1936
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow on a figure.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the window.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the skin, dress, background, and window frame.
- step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, using a variety of colors to create depth and dimension.
- step 04
Develop the details of the dress, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 05
Work on the background, using lighter colors and softer edges to create a sense of distance.
- step 06
Add details to the window frame and the figure in the background.
- step 07
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes and mouth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · rose madder · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light
Mix rose madder and white for the dress, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Create skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, rose madder, white, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding touches of yellow ochre for the land.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·color mixing
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of skin tones.
- →Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective in the background.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#2 filbert brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before painting. Work in a well-ventilated area.
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