plate no. 7925

Portrait of Fru Lisen Samson, nee Hirsch, Arranging Flowers at a Window

watercolor, paperRealismportraitfigureportraitplantinteriorwindowflowers

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in complex lighting and rendering textures with watercolor. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through layering and glazing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with thin washes of diluted color.
step 03
Begin layering darker values to define the figure and background.
step 04
Introduce local color, focusing on the skin tones, clothing, and plant.
step 05
Develop the details of the face and hands, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the textures of the fabric, plant leaves, and interior elements.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to achieve a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix blacks and browns to create the dark tones of the dress and background. Use red and yellow ochre for skin tones, and mix greens from blue and yellow for the plant.

techniques