plate no. 2200

Ecaterina Tonitza

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguredressbackgroundwoman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing likeness with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting fabric patterns and background elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the skin, dress, and background.
step 03
Mix and apply the base skin tone, paying attention to subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the dress, focusing on the overall color and pattern, simplifying details.
step 05
Develop the background, using loose brushstrokes to suggest depth and texture.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to color, value, and edges to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · purple

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red and ultramarine blue. The dress color can be achieved by mixing cadmium red and burnt sienna. Use viridian green and yellow ochre for the green background elements.

techniques