plate no. 8446
Anne Estelle Rice in Paris (Closerie des lilas)
John Duncan Fergusson, 1907
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create form and atmosphere. It also encourages simplification of detail and focusing on essential shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, hat, and background elements.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall composition and color relationships.
- step 03
Start with the darkest values, then move to mid-tones and highlights.
- step 04
Use bold, visible brushstrokes to define the forms and create texture.
- step 05
Mix colors directly on the canvas to achieve a lively and spontaneous effect.
- step 06
Pay attention to the negative space around the figure to enhance the composition.
- step 07
Refine the details of the face and hat, but avoid overworking them.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · alizarin crimson
Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky and hat. Use red and white for the skin tones, adding touches of green and yellow for shadows. Mix red and blue for purples in the background.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·color temperature
- ·expressive brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors and losing vibrancy.
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-blending.
- →Not using enough paint and creating thin, weak strokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·apron
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) to allow for bold brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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