plate no. 9659

Ellen Bennett

Edward R. Taylor, 1900

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguregirlinteriorchairbedroom

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering realistic fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through soft lighting and muted colors.

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 the proportions of the figure and the placement of key elements.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted green and brown tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall values and color temperature.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, using a limited palette of earth tones, white, and a touch of red.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using small, controlled brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the background elements, such as the bed, chair, and wall hangings.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt sienna, raw umber, and alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create muted grays for the dress and background.

techniques