plate no. 0296

Portrait of Else Lampe Von Quita

Theo van Rysselberghe, 1911

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguredressbackground patterntablechair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through layering and subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering complex patterns and textures.

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 the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin, hair, dress, background, and furniture.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds and textures.
step 05
Create the background pattern, focusing on the repetition and variation of the floral motifs.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the color and value to achieve a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · flesh tint · viridian · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium orange

Mix skin tones using flesh tint, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Achieve the dress colors by mixing viridian with ultramarine blue and burnt umber. The background requires a range of warm and cool tones created by mixing the primary and secondary colors.

techniques