plate no. 7132
Portrait of Madame Redon with Ari
Odilon Redon, 1902
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with pastels and creating soft, dreamlike effects. It also provides practice in capturing subtle facial expressions and using color to convey mood.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of orange, yellow, and hints of blue.
- step 03
Begin layering colors on the faces, starting with a base of red and adding highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Define the clothing with blue and green pastels, paying attention to the folds and textures.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add details to the background, such as the suggestion of foliage or architectural elements.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend colors with a blending stump or your fingers.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · orange · red · blue · yellow
secondary · green · white · brown
Achieve the skin tones by layering red, orange, and yellow pastels. Mix blue and green for the clothing, and add white for highlights.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·hatching
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending and losing the texture of the pastels
- →Using too much pressure and making the colors muddy
- →Ignoring the underlying sketch and losing the proportions
- →Not layering colors sufficiently to create depth
materials
surface · Pastel paper (toned)
required
- ·Pastel set (soft pastels)
- ·Pastel paper (toned)
- ·Blending stumps
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Pencils (for sketching)
- ·Ruler
- ·Workable fixative
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Easel
- ·Gloves
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly rough texture to grip the pastels. Toned paper will help to create a more harmonious color scheme.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
