plate no. 1223

Portrait of Alexa Pfeiffer

oilImpressionismportraitfigureportraitbasketapplesdressbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practice loose, expressive brushwork 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
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, basket, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing subtle variations of color for highlights, mid-tones, and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the dress, using loose brushstrokes to suggest the folds and drapery.
step 06
Paint the basket and apples, focusing on capturing their texture and form.
step 07
Refine the background, using expressive brushwork to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use umber and white for the background, adding touches of red and blue for variation. Mix greens for the apples using yellow ochre and blue.

techniques