plate no. 7629

Portrait of Marthe Hientz

Thomas Pollock Anshutz, 1906

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguredresschairbackgroundwoman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds with light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating a complex background with subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the background, paying attention to the subtle color variations and patterns.
step 04
Begin refining the face, focusing on accurate proportions and capturing the likeness.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, using layers of paint to create the folds and textures.
step 06
Add details to the hands and other accessories.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve the off-white of the dress by mixing titanium white with small amounts of raw umber, yellow ochre, and ivory black. The skin tones are created using a combination of titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and a touch of ultramarine blue.

techniques