plate no. 9647

Miss Alice Boit

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfigurehairbowdressface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating soft, blended backgrounds and depicting fabric textures.

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 background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, hair, dress, and background.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the hair, bow, and dress, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Blend and soften edges to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the background by blending red and umber with varying amounts of white.

techniques