plate no. 4757

Blue and Gold: Portrait of Dorothy Sutherland

Jane Sutherland, 1908

pastelImpressionismportraitportraitfigurehairclothingnecklaceface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending pastels to create soft transitions and capturing subtle variations in skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and jewelry with a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hair, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes of pastel, blending to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing, using light and shadow to define form.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the hair, using a variety of pastel strokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and necklace, using lighter and darker values to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Blend and soften the pastel strokes to create a smooth, luminous effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · light blue · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · pink · gray · white

Mix light blue with white for the dress highlights. Use yellow ochre and raw umber to create the hair color, adding touches of pink for warmth. Mix gray from the primary colors for the background.

techniques

·pastel blending
·layering
·scumbling
·softening edges
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→over-blending, resulting in a muddy appearance
→getting the proportions of the face wrong
→using too much pressure when applying the pastel
→not layering colors effectively

materials

surface · pastel paper

required

·soft pastels
·pastel paper
·kneaded eraser
·blending stumps
·fixative spray
·drawing board
·paper towels

optional

·pastel pencils
·palette knife
·workable fixative

Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to grip the pastel. Use a kneaded eraser to lift off excess pastel and correct mistakes. Spray fixative lightly to prevent smudging.

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