plate no. 1299

Helene Schlapp

oilSymbolismportraitportraitfigurehairlandscapeskydress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and hair, and creating soft, blended backgrounds. It also provides practice in capturing the texture and flow of hair with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber or raw sienna to establish the overall value structure.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, dress, sky, and landscape.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions in the skin tones.
step 05
Use short, directional brushstrokes to define the texture and form of the hair.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Adjust the overall composition and color balance as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Mix skin tones using titanium white, burnt sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve hair colors by blending burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the sky.

techniques

·portraiture
·color blending
·layering
·dry brush texture
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting the underlying value structure.
→Getting lost in details too early.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, raw umber)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags