plate no. 8936

Madame Meerson and Her Daughter

pastelImpressionismportraitportraitfiguresclothinghairjewelrymother and daughter

some experience helpful

Recreating this pastel painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, blending techniques, and capturing subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and creating a sense of depth through color and value.

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 figures and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying broad strokes of pastel to the background and clothing.
step 03
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Refine the details of the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, hair, and jewelry, using short, broken strokes of pastel.
step 06
Blend the colors together to create a soft, diffused effect.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Fix the pastel with a light spray of fixative.

color palette

primary · black · white · red-brown · ochre

secondary · blue · green · yellow

Achieve skin tones by layering pinks, yellows, and blues over a base of ochre. Mix blacks and browns with blues and greens to create depth in the clothing.

techniques