plate no. 4232
After the Dance
Henri Gervex, 1888
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to render fabrics and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, table, and background.
- step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle color variations.
- step 04
Develop the dress, focusing on the folds and textures of the fabric.
- step 05
Paint the background with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add details to the flowers and fan, using smaller brushes.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · burnt umber
Mix various shades of grey and blue for the background. Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow, and a touch of brown. Use black and white to create the dress's tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background.
- →Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the overall composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches) is recommended.
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