plate no. 3796

Lady working on the terrace

oil, panelRealismgenre paintingfigureterraceskychairflowersbuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering fabric folds, capturing atmospheric perspective in the sky, and painting convincing skin tones in natural light. It also provides practice in depicting complex forms like the chair and the figure's hands.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, chair, and architectural elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, establishing the overall value range.
step 03
Establish the basic tones of the figure's skin, dress, and hair, focusing on accurate values.
step 04
Paint the chair using a warm brown, paying attention to the light and shadow on its form.
step 05
Add the details of the figure's face and hands, refining the shapes and values.
step 06
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds and highlights.
step 07
Paint the flowers and plants in the foreground, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and realism of the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw umber · ivory black

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky, adding small amounts of yellow ochre or raw umber to create subtle variations. Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of raw umber.

techniques