plate no. 0267

Portrait of Nadezhda Zabela-Vrubel, the Artist's Wife, in an Empire Dress

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfiguredresshatwomanclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations, and capturing the essence of a subject rather than photorealistic detail. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and clothing folds with simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color with thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin adding thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes to define the forms and details.
step 04
Pay attention to the highlights and shadows on the face and clothing.
step 05
Mix subtle variations of color to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and hat, but maintain a loose and expressive style.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of complementary colors. Use white to lighten values and create subtle gradations.

techniques