plate no. 0149

Margot

Mary Cassatt, 1902

pastelImpressionismportraitfigureportraitchildhatclothingbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in pastel layering, color blending, and capturing soft, diffused light. It also provides practice in portraiture and rendering fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by laying down broad strokes of pastel for the background, figure, and clothing.
step 03
Begin to build up layers of color, focusing on the shadows and highlights to create depth and form.
step 04
Pay close attention to the skin tones, using subtle variations in color to capture the softness of the child's face.
step 05
Add details to the hat and clothing, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the edges and contours of the figure, softening them to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and hands.
step 08
Blend areas as needed to create smooth transitions between colors.

color palette

primary · red · yellow · white · blue

secondary · green · brown · gray

Mix various shades of red and yellow to achieve the warm tones of the clothing and background. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix blue and red to achieve the color of the hat.

techniques