plate no. 5012

Mrs Bacon

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitwomandogdresschairflowers

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in capturing light and shadow on fabric and fur with visible brushstrokes. Students can also develop skills in portraiture and depicting textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, dog, and major shapes.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a mix of blues, browns, and blacks.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress with a light yellow ochre and white mixture, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 04
Start defining the features of the woman's face, using subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Paint the dog's fur with short, directional brushstrokes, using a mix of white, brown, and black.
step 06
Add details to the dress, including the floral patterns and shadows.
step 07
Refine the background and add any remaining details, such as the jewelry and chair.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Achieve the dress color by mixing yellow ochre with white and a touch of cadmium yellow. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the dark background. Mix alizarin crimson with white for the skin tones.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overblending, which can flatten the image.
→Getting the proportions of the figure and dog wrong.
→Using too much detail too early in the process.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the dress and fur.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags