plate no. 2187

Good Friends (portrait of the Artist's Sister Bertha Edelfelt)

oilRealismgenre paintingfiguredoginteriorwindowbookfurniture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering soft light and shadow, as well as capturing the texture of fabrics and fur. It also provides practice in depicting realistic skin tones and facial features.

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 placement of the figure, dog, and main elements.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, paying attention to the light coming through the window.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and dog with simplified colors and values.
step 04
Develop the skin tones and facial features, using subtle color variations and soft blending.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and accessories, capturing the texture of the fabric and lace.
step 06
Refine the fur of the dog, using short, broken brushstrokes to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of pink and peach for the skin and dress by combining white, red, and yellow ochre. Use raw umber and white for the neutral tones of the room and furniture. Create greens for the landscape outside the window by mixing blue and yellow.

techniques