plate no. 7159

The Spinner

oilRealismgenre paintingfigurespinning wheeldresschairfurbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering fabric and textures, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting complex objects like the spinning wheel.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the figure, chair, and spinning wheel.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of green and brown, varying the tones to create depth.
step 03
Block in the basic shapes of the figure and clothing with their local colors.
step 04
Start refining the figure's features, paying attention to the subtle highlights and shadows on the face.
step 05
Work on the details of the dress, using layering and blending to create the folds and textures.
step 06
Carefully render the spinning wheel, focusing on its intricate structure and the play of light and shadow.
step 07
Add the fur texture on the chair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Achieve the flesh tones by mixing burnt sienna, titanium white, and a touch of alizarin crimson. The dress color can be created by mixing burnt sienna with a bit of alizarin crimson and white. The background is a mix of sap green, raw umber, and white.

techniques