plate no. 6615

Girl in a Fur, Mademoiselle Jeanne Fontaine

oil, boardPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurefurclothinghairprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing the essence of a portrait with loose brushstrokes and understanding color relationships to create depth and form. It also encourages experimentation with layering and blending to achieve a textured effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and the overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, vertical strokes of ochre, yellow, and a touch of green.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the red coat, the fur collar, and the skin tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the fur collar, using short, broken strokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Develop the folds and shadows in the red coat, using darker shades of red and brown.
step 07
Refine the hair, using a combination of light and dark tones to create volume and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · red · ochre · yellow

secondary · green · brown · white

Mix various shades of red by adding brown, ochre, or a touch of blue. Create skin tones by blending white, yellow, ochre, and a tiny amount of red. Achieve the fur color by mixing ochre, brown, and white with small touches of yellow.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can lead to a stiff and lifeless painting.
→Failing to capture the subtle shifts in color and value, resulting in a flat and unconvincing image.
→Not paying enough attention to the proportions of the figure.
→Using too much paint, which can obscure the texture of the board.