plate no. 3217
The milkmaid
Peter Fendi, 1830
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, landscape blending, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. Students can also practice rendering textures like grass and stone.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the figure, architecture, and landscape.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, grass, building, and figure.
- step 03
Develop the sky with soft, blended brushstrokes, paying attention to the cloud formations.
- step 04
Refine the landscape, adding details to the grass and distant city.
- step 05
Work on the figure, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle shading.
- step 06
Add details to the architecture, including the carvings and textures.
- step 07
Paint the spilled milk and bucket, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to the entire painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · cadmium yellow light
Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create grays by mixing ivory black and titanium white. Use burnt umber to create earth tones.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering textures
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Not paying enough attention to the proportions of the figure.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth of colors.
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