plate no. 0055

Profile

Edmund Charles Tarbell, 1900

pastel, paperImpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanprofilehairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and soft blending techniques. It also provides practice in capturing subtle light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, neck, and hair.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even layer.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and neck using broad strokes.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of pink, peach, and brown.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to their subtle shapes and values.
step 06
Develop the hair, using short, directional strokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Refine the edges of the figure and hair to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, sienna, and a touch of blue. Use ultramarine blue and white for the background, adding small amounts of sienna for variation. Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the hair.

techniques