plate no. 6030

Portrait of a woman (Tatiana Ryabushinskaya)

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitwomanfigureclothingbackground

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning portrait proportions and how to create form with loose brushstrokes. It also offers practice in mixing skin tones and creating a sense of depth with a limited color palette.

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 figure.
step 02
Block in the background with a mid-tone gray.
step 03
Establish the darkest values of the jacket and hair.
step 04
Mix skin tones and apply them to the face and neck, focusing on light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the details of the ruffled shirt, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights to the hair and clothing.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive image.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use black and white to create the various shades of gray for the background and clothing. Add a touch of blue to black for cooler shadows.

techniques