plate no. 7486

Helene de Septeuil

pastel, paperImpressionismgenre paintingmotherchildportraitfigureclothinghat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering pastel strokes to build form and capturing subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric patterns and creating a sense of depth through value variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes of pastel.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the mother's dress, the child's clothing, and the skin tones.
step 04
Begin layering pastels to build up the form and create shadows and highlights.
step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones, using soft blending techniques.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the plaid pattern on the child's dress.
step 07
Refine the facial features and add highlights to the eyes and hair.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · black · green · red · white

secondary · yellow ochre · blue · brown

Mix various shades of skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of green or blue. Create the dark dress by layering black, brown, and hints of blue.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·hatching
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the pastels, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, leading to a flat and lifeless painting.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · toned pastel paper

required

·Pastel set (soft pastels)
·Pastel paper (toned)
·Kneaded eraser
·Blending stumps or tortillions
·Fixative spray
·Pencil
·Ruler

optional

·Workable fixative
·Easel
·Palette for organizing pastels

Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to allow the pastels to adhere well. A toned paper will help to establish the mid-tones and create a more harmonious composition.

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