plate no. 1351

Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt

Louise Abbéma, 1921

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfiguretableflowersinteriorstill life

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for subtle skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through layering and soft brushwork. It also encourages observation of light and shadow on various surfaces.

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 the placement of the figure and key objects.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, using thin washes.
step 03
Develop the background, paying attention to the subtle patterns and textures.
step 04
Begin to refine the figure, focusing on the face and hands.
step 05
Add details to the still life elements on the table.
step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows throughout the painting.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow light · ivory black

Achieve the subtle skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create muted grays for shadows. Mix yellow ochre and white for the warm highlights.

techniques