plate no. 1711

Lady with a Black Hat

pastel, linenRealismportraitportraitwomanhatveilclothingfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to layer colors to create soft transitions and how to suggest detail rather than rendering every element precisely. It will also help them practice portraiture and capturing the essence of a subject.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with broad, soft strokes.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hat, and clothing, focusing on value rather than precise hues.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and form, blending edges where needed.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, lips, and nose, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
step 06
Develop the details of the hat and clothing, using short, broken strokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · red · pink · brown · black

secondary · white · yellow ochre

Mix pinks by blending red and white, and create browns by combining red, yellow, and black. Use yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·hatching
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the soft, painterly quality.
→Using colors that are too saturated and creating a harsh effect.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Not paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value in the skin tones.

materials

surface · Pastel paper (toned)

required

·Pastel sticks (various shades of red, pink, brown, black, white, and yellow ochre)
·Pastel paper (toned)
·Blending stumps or tortillons
·Kneaded eraser
·Fixative spray
·Soft brushes
·Workable fixative

optional

·Palette knife
·Easel
·Chamois cloth

Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to grip the pastel. A toned paper will help to establish the background color and create a sense of atmosphere.

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