plate no. 4566

Portrait of a Woman in Profile

Edouard Vuillard, 1908

oil, boardPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureprofilewomanhairindoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in broken color techniques and capturing form with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also emphasizes understanding subtle color relationships in skin tones and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish a warm, neutral background tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing using broad strokes.
step 04
Begin layering colors within each area, focusing on capturing the subtle shifts in hue and value.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 06
Pay close attention to the highlights and shadows on the face to define the form.
step 07
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall color balance.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use blue and green to neutralize the red and create shadows. Mix browns and greens for the hair, adding touches of red and yellow for highlights.

techniques