plate no. 6439

Lyda in Green

oilTonalismportraitportraitfiguredresschairbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color blending and creating soft, atmospheric effects. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of a portrait subject with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair lightly on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the overall background color with a thin wash of blue and green.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress and skin tones with slightly darker values.
step 04
Start blending the colors within each area to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to define the form of the figure and dress.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, hair, and hands.
step 07
Add subtle details to the chair and background to create depth.
step 08
Apply a final glaze to unify the colors and create a soft, atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Viridian Green · Titanium White

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Cadmium Red Light · Burnt Umber

Achieve the subtle greens by mixing Prussian Blue, Viridian Green, and Yellow Ochre. Skin tones are created by mixing Titanium White, Cadmium Red Light, and a touch of Burnt Umber.

techniques

·Glazing
·Scumbling
·Soft Blending
·Limited Palette
·Tonal Value Control

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the soft, atmospheric effect.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy appearance.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations within each area.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Viridian Green, Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red Light, Burnt Umber)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags