plate no. 7594

Mademoiselle Beatrice Tapie de Celeyran

oil, panelPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomandresshairbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to use broken color and visible brushstrokes to create form and texture. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a mood through subtle variations in 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 figure onto the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background colors with broad, loose strokes.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the figure, focusing on the overall shapes of the dress, face, and hair.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and form.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture to create depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the figure is well-integrated into the background.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Use raw umber and ultramarine blue to create shadows and darker areas.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brush
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Focusing too much on detail too early in the process.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color that create form.
→Not capturing the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife