plate no. 7318

Hat with a Red Ribbon

oilImpressionismportraitportraitwomanhatreddressfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing light and shadow with visible brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in creating form with broken color and loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of broken color, focusing on the subtle variations in hue and value.
step 04
Paint the hat, paying attention to the texture and form of the ribbon and brim.
step 05
Develop the dress with loose, expressive brushstrokes, capturing the folds and highlights.
step 06
Refine the background with a variety of warm and cool tones, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the colors and values are balanced.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create darker shadows. Mix red with a touch of alizarin crimson for the hat.

techniques