plate no. 0951

Seated Woman in a Red Dress

Roderic O'Conor, 1925

oilPost-Impressionismportraitfigureportraitdresschairbookshelfinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and creating depth through layering and brushwork. It also offers practice in capturing the essence of a subject's pose and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the skin, dress, chair, and background.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the folds and drapery of the red dress, using variations in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the chair and background, including the bookshelf and objects on the table.
step 06
Refine the facial features and expression of the woman.
step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and contrast.
step 08
Add final details and highlights.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · viridian · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, cadmium red, and white, with touches of burnt umber for shadows. Achieve the red dress color by mixing cadmium red with touches of burnt umber for darker areas and white for highlights.

techniques