plate no. 7076

Reclining Woman

Émilie Charmy, 1900

oilPost-Impressionismportraitfigureportraitwomanrecliningcouchfabric

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing a sense of form with limited detail. It's a good exercise in expressive portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and couch.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark colors.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and couch.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and form, focusing on light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the face, paying attention to the eyes and mouth.
step 06
Refine the brushwork, using short, expressive strokes to capture texture.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · viridian

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine and burnt umber to create dark neutrals. Add small amounts of viridian and cadmium red to create the colors in the couch.

techniques