plate no. 7535

The Lake Fairy

Kimon Loghi, 1915

oilSymbolismsymbolic paintingfigurelakeswanstreeswaterfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly blending skin tones and capturing soft lighting effects, as well as creating atmospheric perspective in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, swans, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of blues and greens for the background and a warm undertone for the figure.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the proportions and basic values.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, using subtle variations of pink, yellow, and white.
step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 06
Paint the hair, using a combination of warm and cool tones to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the background, adding details to the trees, water, and swans.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Create the water and foliage by blending blues, greens, and yellows.

techniques