plate no. 8445

My Wife in Blue

John French Sloan, 1917

oil, canvasNew Realismportraitfigureportraitdresscouchwindowinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in blues and greens, and practice layering brushstrokes to create form and texture.

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 composition lightly on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks: the dress, couch, background, and skin tones.
step 03
Begin layering in darker values to define shadows and form.
step 04
Mix and apply various shades of blue for the dress, paying attention to highlights and folds.
step 05
Develop the background with greens and yellows, suggesting the window and curtain.
step 06
Refine the facial features, using subtle color variations for highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add details such as the belt and the trim of the dress.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall balance of colors and values.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

Mix blues and greens with white to create lighter shades for highlights. Use burnt sienna to warm up skin tones and create shadows.

techniques

·color mixing
·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting lost in details too early.
→Using too much paint and losing the texture of the canvas.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, viridian green, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags