plate no. 3164

Elsie Palmer

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfigureflowersgardendressfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as creating depth and texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations.
step 04
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Add details to the dress and hair, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Paint the background foliage and flowers, focusing on capturing the overall impression rather than precise details.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, adjusting the values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and brown. Use green and blue to create the cool tones in the shadows. Mix red and black for the dark flowers.

techniques