plate no. 3301
Portrait of Madame Haasen
Felix Vallotton, 1908
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also offers practice in creating subtle color variations and soft blending.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and dress.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted gray-purple.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, using slightly darker tones than the final result.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the dress, using darker shades of red and brown.
- step 06
Add details to the lace sleeves and the embroidered bodice.
- step 07
Paint the fan, focusing on the light and shadow to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face, hair, and dress to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · red · white · brown · gray
secondary · pink · purple · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of red by combining a base red with brown, white, and a touch of yellow ochre. Achieve skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of red and brown.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·color mixing
- ·rendering fabric
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the painting process.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and form through shading.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (red, white, brown, gray, yellow ochre)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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