plate no. 9820

Helen in Green Suit

John French Sloan, 1950

temperaNew Realismportraitportraitfiguresuitchairwindowinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting helps students practice controlled brushstrokes and understand how to build form with repetitive lines. It also teaches color mixing for skin tones and creating depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, chair, and window.
step 02
Establish the background with vertical brushstrokes of blue and yellow.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the suit, skin, and chair.
step 04
Begin layering short, parallel brushstrokes to define the form and create texture.
step 05
Mix and apply skin tones using yellow, orange, and white, following the direction of the face's contours.
step 06
Add darker greens and blacks to the suit to create shadows and folds.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, hands, and clothing.
step 08
Add final highlights and adjust values to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Emerald green · Titanium white

secondary · Cadmium orange · Burnt umber · Cadmium red

Mix greens by combining Prussian blue and yellow ochre. Skin tones are achieved by blending yellow ochre, cadmium orange, and titanium white. Use burnt umber to darken colors and create shadows.

techniques

·Hatching
·Layering
·Color mixing
·Dry brushing
·Controlled brushstrokes

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Applying brushstrokes in random directions, losing the sense of form.
→Ignoring the underlying sketch, leading to inaccurate proportions.
→Using too much paint, obscuring the texture.

materials

surface · Gessoed board or heavy paper

required

·Tempera paints
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels
·Pencil

optional

·Palette knife
·Retarder medium
·Easel

Tempera paints dry quickly, so work in small sections. A retarder medium can be added to slow the drying time. Use a gessoed board to provide a smooth surface for the paint.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

how to learn by studying the masters →

chat about this artwork

in this vein