plate no. 4365
The Nest
John Everett Millais, 1887
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering soft, diffused light. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of dark browns and greens.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, using a limited palette of warm and cool tones.
- step 04
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the stripes and floral pattern on the mother's dress.
- step 06
Refine the facial features, capturing the expressions of the mother and child.
- step 07
Paint the foliage, using a variety of greens and browns to create texture and depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of realism.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create variations in the background foliage by blending greens with browns and blues.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·fabric rendering
common pitfalls
- →overworking the details
- →flattening the forms
- →inaccurate proportions
- →muddying the colors
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes sizes 2, 4, 6
- ·flat brushes sizes 4, 8
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Allow each layer of paint to dry before applying the next.
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