🖼️ Masters Project #2 (Feb 2026) - Master Thread ✍️🎨🤝

Chris Legaspi

9d (edited) • 🌹Taste & Aesthetics 🖼️

⭐ Our master work of the month is:

"The Milkmaid" (De melkmeid or Het melkmeisje) by Jahannes Vermeer*

Date: C 1657 - 1658

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Milkmaid_(Vermeer)

🌹 What is the Masters Project?

This is a group project where we study and appreciate a great masterwork from history. At the end of the month I will do a deep-dive and analyze what makes his work beautiful and worthy of praise and study.

If you are are an artist scroll down to see the ways you can study a masterwork. If you are not a artist you can contribute your own essays and analysis on Vermeer or the historical context of his time.

🤔 Why Vermeer?

I believe he is one of historically great artists/draftsman in human history and is worth of study
The 19th century greats that we idolize all looked to the 17th greats that came before them, so we should do the same
It's good to examine a more "famous" or "mainstream" work from history to see if it's actually worthy of being remembered (hint: Vermeer actually is!)
Personally I admire and need to study, model and examine soft and quiet work/scenes and genres. Soft, quiet, pretty look and aesthetic is something I want to strengthen in my own work.

I would like to do 3 paintings by Vermeer this month (see attached).

-------------------------

👉 To join the project:

#1. Study this masterwork to the best of your ability and current skill level.

#2. Study with intent and care. Learn from the master, don't just copy.

#3. Post your work here in this thread.

#4. Along with your work share your lessons and thoughts. Drawing/painting with thought and intention = massive learning.

#5. Support, encourage and teach your classmates. Treat this project like we are in a live classroom. In live class rooms students collaborate and mentor others.

Complete at least 1 master study per week before the deadline so I can give you feedback. I will also do live demo every week on one of the master study paths.

🟢 Basically you can be as ambitious as you want - sketches, line drawings, thumbnails or full size/ambitious copies. It's up to you and your current level.

Good Luck!

✔️ This is project is shaped by you! So please share your thoughts and feedback here as we go.

👉 Deadline:

Week 1 = Feb 8, 2026

Week 2 = Feb 15, 2026

Week 3 = Feb 22, 2026

Final Due (full scale / ambitious copy) = Feb 28, 2026

---------------------------

🔴 How You Can Study this Master Work 🔴

Choose the approach that fits your current focus:

#1. Figure focused:

gesture & construction analysis
anatomy analysis and study
perspective and foreshortening breakdown
contour and design study

#2. Portrait focused study

construction, planes and rhythms analysis and study
facial anatomy analysis and study
head turns and difficult angles

#3. Light, form and realism

light and form studies: head, figure or section
shading techniques and materials - experiment with or master your shading materials
careful and intentional fabric study

#4. Painters

tonal composition sketch - drawing or paint
color composition in paint
b/w copy
full color copy
brushwork, technique and paint handing

#5. Picture Maker

deep composition analysis: visual diagrams and essay
detailed, large-scale drawing copies
detailed, large-scale color/painting copies
Biographical essay or article

👉 P.S.

Please post your work in this thread to help keep things organized.
Include any lessons, thoughts and commentary on the masterwork. Mindless copies or careless studies will be called out.
this group activity is shaped by you and your contributions, if you have any comments, feedback, requests etc, please reply here to help improve and refine this group project
This is all voluntary :) Just something new and fun I'd like to try. Please continue with your current coursework.

Good luck ✍️🎨📕

3 comments