plate no. 0454

Portrait of Madame de Gortzikolff

oil, cardboardPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomaninteriorclothingcouch

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing likeness, rendering textures with visible brushstrokes, and mixing colors to achieve subtle variations in tone and hue.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin adding details to the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Develop the textures of the fur and clothing using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the background, suggesting details without overworking them.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Check the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Add final details and touches to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · red · green · brown · black

secondary · yellow · purple · white

Achieve the rich reds by mixing a crimson with a touch of brown. Create the greens by blending blues and yellows, and muting them with browns and reds. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques