plate no. 4019

Girl in Yellow Sweater

Prudence Heward, 1936

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurelandscapetreeshillssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and landscapes, and creating depth through layering and atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, tree, and landscape, paying attention to proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, hills, tree, figure's clothing, and skin tones using thin washes.
step 03
Develop the background landscape, layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Refine the figure's features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Add details to the tree, including branches and foliage, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the folds and shadows in the figure's clothing, paying attention to the way light falls on the fabric.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the skin tones to create a sense of volume and realism.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition, color balance, and details to achieve a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Create landscape greens by mixing sap green with ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. Achieve browns by mixing burnt umber with small amounts of ultramarine blue and cadmium red.

techniques