plate no. 8195

Artist's Wife with Pegasus

Józef Mehoffer, 1913

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurehorseroseswingschair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to balance a complex composition with multiple focal points. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and organic forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, horse, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas, starting with the background and then moving to the figure and horse.
step 03
Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension in the face, clothing, and horse.
step 04
Add details to the roses and other background elements, paying attention to their shapes and colors.
step 05
Refine the details of the figure, including the hat, collar, and hands.
step 06
Work on the texture of the fabric and the horse's coat, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create contrast and visual interest.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · viridian green

Achieve the blues by mixing ultramarine with white and a touch of burnt umber for shadows. The skin tones are a blend of white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue for cool shadows.

techniques