plate no. 2143

Chloe Boughton Leigh

Gwen John, 1908

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguredresswallpaintingjewelry

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice portraiture, focusing on subtle color variations and creating a sense of mood. Students can also learn about rendering fabric texture and simple background elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and the painting on the wall.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of ochre and umber.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure: head, torso, and hands.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the dress, focusing on the pattern and folds. Use a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes.
step 07
Paint the framed picture on the wall, using a limited palette of grays and browns.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to refine the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red light. Create the dress color by mixing ivory black and titanium white with a hint of ultramarine blue.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much paint and losing the subtle color variations.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·assorted brushes (small round, medium flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags