plate no. 7883

Lady with Goldfish

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfigurechairgoldfishinteriordress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering textures like fabric and glass.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and goldfish bowl.
step 02
Establish the background and general color scheme with thin washes.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure, focusing on the skin tones and dress.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the chair and background, creating depth and interest.
step 06
Paint the goldfish bowl, capturing the reflections and distortions of the water.
step 07
Refine the details of the dress, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the entire painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · viridian

Mix subtle skin tones by blending white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber to create the dark tones of the dress and chair.

techniques