plate no. 5632

A Lady Having Tea

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitfigureportraittea setflowersfoliagegarden

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practicing soft blending techniques to create a dreamy atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, the tea set, and the background foliage.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using subtle variations of color and value to create form.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to proportions and expression.
step 05
Paint the dress and tea set, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Develop the background foliage, using loose brushstrokes and varying shades of green to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add the flowers, paying attention to their color and form.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use green and blue to create the various shades of foliage. Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create the soft, muted tones throughout the painting.

techniques