plate no. 9065

Portrait of Mrs Meade

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguredresscouchindoorwoman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and textures with subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and couch.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of neutral colors, paying attention to the subtle gradations.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the figure, starting with the dress and then the skin tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the lace and the highlights.
step 06
Add the details of the couch, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding small details to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red light · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the black dress by mixing ivory black with a touch of ultramarine blue for depth. The red couch is achieved by mixing cadmium red light with burnt umber and white for highlights.

techniques