plate no. 9970

Portrait of the Artist's Wife

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfigurelaceflowerschairtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides a good exercise in creating a soft, diffused light effect.

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 proportions of the figure and the placement of key elements.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression of the subject.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the lace collar and the folds of the fabric.
step 06
Render the details of the chair and table, paying attention to the textures and patterns.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use small amounts of alizarin crimson to add warmth. Create the lace color by mixing titanium white with small amounts of raw sienna and burnt umber.

techniques