plate no. 8806

Jeanne

Joan Brull, 1900

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfiguredressinteriorwomanfabric

experienced study

Students would develop skills in portraiture, understanding facial anatomy and expression, while mastering the challenge of painting rich black fabrics with subtle color variations and realistic skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic figure proportions and pose, establishing the head-to-body ratio
step 02
Map out the major value structure, identifying the lightest lights (face, hands) and darkest darks (dress)
step 03
Block in the background using warm neutral tones, keeping it simple and unified
step 04
Paint the face using careful flesh tone mixtures, paying attention to subtle modeling
step 05
Develop the black dress using various dark mixtures, never pure black, adding subtle blue and purple reflections
step 06
Add the textural details of the lace and fabric patterns using precise brushwork
step 07
Refine the hands and any jewelry or accessories with careful attention to proportions
step 08
Final touches on facial features, hair texture, and overall value adjustments

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber · raw umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Create rich blacks by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber rather than using pure black; mix flesh tones with white, yellow ochre, and tiny amounts of red and umber

techniques