plate no. 6517

Lady in Yellow

oilRealismportraitfigureportraitdresschairwomandark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing subtle skin tones and rendering fabric with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress with a mid-tone yellow.
step 04
Begin to build up the highlights and shadows in the dress, using lighter and darker shades of yellow.
step 05
Carefully paint the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle variations in color.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Refine the details of the dress and chair, adding texture and depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix yellows with white for highlights, and add small amounts of burnt umber or black for shadows. Use alizarin crimson and white to create the skin tones, and add small amounts of yellow or umber to adjust the color.

techniques