plate no. 8244

Mother and Daughter

Richard Gerstl, 1906

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitfiguresportraitmotherdaughterdresschairinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a harmonious color palette with subtle variations.

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 figures and the chair.
step 02
Establish the background colors, focusing on the overall tone and texture.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures, starting with the darkest areas of the mother's dress.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and details of the faces, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add layers of color to the dresses, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Work on the details of the chair and the surrounding environment.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and harmony.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix ivory black and ultramarine blue for the dark dress, adding touches of burnt umber for warmth. Use yellow ochre and titanium white for the background, and mix cadmium red with white for the pink dress.

techniques