plate no. 0846

Charles Conder

Jacques-Émile Blanche, 1904

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfigurecouchclothinginteriorwall

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and patterns.

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, couch, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin, clothing, couch, and wall.
step 03
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Refine the details of the clothing, including the folds and shadows.
step 05
Add the floral pattern to the couch, simplifying the details.
step 06
Develop the background, including the paintings on the wall.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final details.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, with small amounts of red and blue for subtle variations. Achieve the darks in the suit by mixing ivory black and raw umber.

techniques