plate no. 9084

Lady with a hat

oilImpressionismportraitportraitwomanhatflowersclothingprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and creating soft, impressionistic effects with visible brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing light and shadow on a face and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, hat, and dress, focusing on the overall tones.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build depth and dimension, paying attention to the subtle shifts in hue and value.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, controlled strokes.
step 06
Refine the hat and flowers, adding texture and detail with short, broken strokes.
step 07
Develop the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of blue and white for the background. Use yellow ochre, white, and a touch of alizarin crimson for the skin tones. Mix burnt umber with blue and crimson for the hat.

techniques