plate no. 0791

In the country

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitfigureportraitchairgardentreesdress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for subtle skin tones and capturing the impressionistic feel of light and shadow. It's also a good exercise in painting fabric and foliage with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Start building up layers of color, focusing on the light and shadow.
step 04
Pay attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
step 05
Add details to the face and clothing, keeping the brushstrokes loose.
step 06
Define the chair structure with darker tones.
step 07
Add highlights to create a sense of light and form.
step 08
Refine the background foliage with varied greens and browns.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and ultramarine for the dress. Use burnt umber and white for the chair. Greens are a mix of blue, yellow, and umber. Skin tones are achieved with white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of blue.

techniques