plate no. 8063

Après Midi De Jeune Fille

Ethel Léontine Gabain, 1936

oilNeo-Romanticismportraitfigureportraitinteriorwindowchairdress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and capturing the nuances of light and shadow in an interior setting. It also provides practice in rendering complex patterns and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, chair, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the main shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, mixing subtle variations of color.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress and chair, paying attention to the patterns and textures.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the background elements, including the window and still life.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red · cerulean blue · viridian

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red and raw umber. Achieve the green in the dress by mixing yellow ochre and viridian. Use cerulean blue and white for the cooler tones in the background.

techniques

·color mixing
·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red, cerulean blue, viridian
·#4 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·#2 filbert brush
·Palette
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil