plate no. 0038

Minnie Cunningham at the Old Bedford

oilImpressionismportraitfigureportraitred dressbuildingflowershat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in limited palette painting, focusing on value relationships within a narrow color range, and capturing a mood through loose brushwork and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the figure, the building, and the flower area.
step 02
Establish the overall background color with a thin wash of muted green/brown.
step 03
Block in the large areas of red for the dress and hat, paying attention to the overall shape and proportions.
step 04
Begin to define the shadows and highlights on the figure, using darker and lighter shades of red.
step 05
Add details to the background, such as the suggestion of windows in the building and the shapes of the flowers.
step 06
Refine the edges of the figure and add subtle details to the face and hands.
step 07
Add the light reflection on the floor.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix various shades of red by adding burnt umber for shadows and white for highlights. Use yellow ochre and sap green to create the muted background tones.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·limited palette
·value study
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Making the red too bright and overpowering; remember to mute it with earth tones.
→Not paying attention to the subtle value changes within the red dress.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making the background too sharp.