plate no. 3706
Lady in Yellow Dress
Max Kurzweil, 1899
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, color mixing, and rendering fabric folds. Students will also learn to create a sense of depth and form using subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and couch.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of grey.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the yellow dress, the green and blue couch, and the skin tones.
- step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and values of the dress, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 05
Add details to the couch, including the floral patterns and the texture of the fabric.
- step 06
Work on the facial features, using subtle color variations to create a realistic portrait.
- step 07
Refine the details of the hands and arms.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · viridian green
secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · raw umber
Mix yellow ochre with white for the dress, adding small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmer tones. Use viridian green and ultramarine blue for the couch, mixing in white and raw umber to create variations in value and hue.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·portraiture
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figure.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints: yellow ochre, titanium white, viridian green, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, raw umber
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the colors and create a smoother finish.
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