plate no. 3642

Woman with flowers

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureflowerscandlelightroses

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how light affects color perception. It will also provide practice in portraiture and rendering fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, candle, and flowers.
step 02
Establish the dark background using thin washes of dark brown and black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's clothing and skin tones, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, building up highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Paint the flowers, focusing on capturing the variations in color and shape.
step 06
Add details to the candle and candlestick, paying attention to the reflected light.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the dark background by mixing black and burnt umber. Use alizarin crimson and cadmium red for the roses, adjusting the value with white and black.

techniques