plate no. 8782

Lady in a Large Hat

Gerda Wegener, 1909

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitwomanhatflowersfur stoleclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering clothing details, as well as practice layering and blending techniques to create soft transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, hat, and fur stole, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral colors.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the skin, hat, and clothing, focusing on overall values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the hat, including the flowers and brim.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, including the polka dots and rose embellishments.
step 07
Render the fur stole, paying attention to the texture and highlights.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and ivory black with titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to create the skin tones and flower colors.

techniques

·portraiture
·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil