plate no. 9311
The Slippers of Cinderella
Aubrey Beardsley, 1894
pen, ink, watercolor, paperArt Nouveau (Modern)illustrationfiguredressrosesgardenarchitecturefeather
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in flat color application and stylized figure drawing. It also provides practice in creating decorative patterns and simplified botanical forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: figure, dress, background elements.
- step 02
Outline the sketch with pen or fine liner, emphasizing the stylized contours.
- step 03
Apply flat washes of watercolor for the background, starting with the darkest areas.
- step 04
Fill in the dress with flat red, leaving highlights as bare paper or very light wash.
- step 05
Add the black details on the dress and the bow, keeping the edges crisp.
- step 06
Paint the roses and foliage with simplified shapes and colors.
- step 07
Add the architectural details in the background.
- step 08
Refine the outlines and add any final details.
color palette
primary · red · black · white
secondary · green · gold
The red is a fairly pure hue. The green is a muted, slightly desaturated shade. The gold is used sparingly for accents.
techniques
- ·flat wash
- ·contour drawing
- ·negative space
- ·pattern making
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the style.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Not achieving crisp, clean edges between color areas.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the figure drawing.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paper
- ·Watercolor paints (red, black, white, green, gold)
- ·Fine liner pen
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
- ·Round watercolor brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
optional
- ·ruler
- ·masking fluid
- ·gouache
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. A fine liner pen with waterproof ink is recommended for outlining.
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