plate no. 4526

Profile of a Woman

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurelandscapeclothingskymountains

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practicing layering techniques for depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and landscape.
step 02
Establish the background with broad washes of color, focusing on the sky and distant mountains.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the patterns and embellishments.
step 06
Develop the landscape further, adding texture and depth to the mountains and foreground.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create dimension.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · ivory black

Mix yellow ochre and white for the base skin tone, adding small amounts of red or blue for subtle variations. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create muted grays and browns for the background.

techniques