plate no. 9077
The Milliner
Eva Gonzales, 1877
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with broken color and creating soft, diffused edges. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and floral details with loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure, hat stand, and box.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of light gray, suggesting the floral pattern.
- step 03
Establish the basic colors of the dress, skin tones, and other objects with broad strokes.
- step 04
Begin to build up layers of color, focusing on capturing the light and shadow.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, hands, and flowers, using smaller brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Pay attention to the edges of objects, softening them where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt sienna
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · viridian
Mix various shades of blue and white for the dress. Use burnt sienna and white with touches of red and yellow for skin tones. Create muted greens by mixing yellow ochre and viridian.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·soft edges
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the impressionistic style.
- →Creating harsh lines and edges instead of soft transitions.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and bright.
- →Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
- ·flat brush (#8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for better paint adhesion and brushwork.
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