plate no. 1944

Portrait of an elegant lady

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitfigureportraitchairdresshatfur

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and mood with a limited palette, and understanding how to suggest form through subtle value changes and brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the overall composition and placement of the subject on the canvas.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes, focusing on the background, dress, and skin tones.
step 04
Build up the darker values in the dress, hat, and chair, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 05
Refine the skin tones and facial features, using subtle color variations to create form.
step 06
Add details to the fur and hat, using dry brush techniques to create texture.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

Achieve the skin tones by mixing titanium white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Create darker values by adding raw umber or ivory black to the primary colors.

techniques