plate no. 7711

A Summer Girl

oilImpressionismportraitfigureportraitdresshatskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and fabric, as well as understanding how to capture light and shadow using broken color techniques. It also provides practice in rendering a figure within an architectural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and placement within the architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the background sky with broad strokes of blue and white, creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall form and gesture.
step 04
Begin layering colors to define the skin tones, using a mix of warm and cool hues.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress and hat, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow.
step 06
Add texture to the architectural elements using broken color and visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and hands, capturing the expression and personality of the subject.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · burnt umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of blue. Create the dress color by blending alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue with white.

techniques