plate no. 2358

Portrait of the artist's wife, the artist Grace Anderson

Walter Battiss, 1945

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfigureflowersinteriorchairstill life

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for skin tones and creating depth through layering and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose strokes, varying the colors slightly.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure, chair, and flowers.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features and details of the figure, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the flowers and vase, using thicker paint and brighter colors.
step 06
Develop the details in the background objects, like the shelf and picture frame.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray for the figure and background. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix greens from blue and yellow.

techniques