plate no. 0421

Portrait of the Artist's Wife

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguredeskpaintingsinteriorpapers

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 depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and desk.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Focus on the skin tones, mixing a range of values and hues to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and desk, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the background elements, including the paintings and the wall, using a looser, more impressionistic style.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and adjust the values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of raw umber. Use ivory black and raw umber for dark areas, and add ultramarine blue to create cooler shadows.

techniques

·portrait painting
·underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong, especially in the face.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife