plate no. 2735

Portrait of Madame Marthe

oilPointillismportraitportraitfiguredresswomanchairhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing to achieve subtle variations and practice applying pointillist brushstrokes to build form and texture. It will also improve their understanding of portraiture and rendering fabric.

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.
step 02
Establish the background color with a base layer.
step 03
Begin applying small, individual brushstrokes of color to build up the background texture.
step 04
Mix skin tones and apply similar pointillist strokes to the face and arms, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the dress using a range of purples and whites, following the folds and drapery.
step 06
Render the chair with reds, oranges, and browns, adding highlights to the armrest.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and hair, adding darker tones for definition.
step 08
Adjust colors and values as needed to achieve a cohesive and harmonious effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · alizarin crimson

Mix purples for the dress by combining ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson with white. Achieve skin tones by blending cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and white, with small amounts of blue or green for shadows. Create the background by layering small strokes of all colors.

techniques