plate no. 9835

Mother and Child Reading

Mary Cassatt, 1913

pastel, paperImpressionismgenre paintingfiguremotherchildportraitdomesticpastel

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color layering and blending with pastels to create soft, realistic skin tones and fabric textures. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes and capture the essence of a subject's expression.

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 figures.
step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes of pastel.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the clothing and skin tones.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension, focusing on shadows and highlights.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and background, such as patterns and textures.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors using your fingers or a blending stump.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · pink · green · brown · yellow

secondary · purple · blue · white

Mix pinks with white and a touch of red or purple for skin tones and clothing. Achieve greens by blending blues and yellows, and vary the shades by adding brown or white.

techniques

·color layering
·blending
·soft edges
·hatching
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Over-blending, which can result in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Using too much pressure when applying pastels.

materials

surface · pastel paper (toned)

required

·Pastel set (soft pastels)
·Pastel paper (toned)
·Kneaded eraser
·Blending stump
·Fixative spray
·Pencil
·Ruler

optional

·Workable fixative
·Easel
·Paper towels

Choose a pastel paper with a slightly rough texture to grip the pastel pigment. A toned paper will help to establish the overall color harmony of the painting.

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