plate no. 8384

Portrait of a Woman in White

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitwomandresshatlacefloral

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as rendering complex textures like lace and fabric folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, establishing the overall tonal values.
step 03
Establish the main shapes of the dress and hat, using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and warmth.
step 05
Add details to the dress, focusing on the lace and fabric folds, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and small amounts of alizarin crimson and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the cool tones in the shadows of the dress.

techniques