plate no. 2761

La Penserosa

Joseph DeCamp, 1908

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanshadowlightclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing subtle light and shadow variations on skin and clothing, as well as creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through soft brushwork and color blending.

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, paying attention to the placement of the head, hand, and arm.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using a limited palette of warm and cool colors to create subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on capturing the folds and textures with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the background, using soft, blended colors to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.
step 06
Pay attention to the edges of the forms, softening them in some areas and sharpening them in others to create a sense of visual interest.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and hands, using small brushes and delicate brushstrokes.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments to the values, colors, or edges.

color palette

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

secondary · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create neutral grays for shadows.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·broken color
·chiaroscuro
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Creating harsh edges and failing to blend the colors smoothly.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone and creating a flat, lifeless portrait.
→Not paying attention to the value structure and creating a painting that lacks depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags