plate no. 7540

Seated Woman in Profile

Thomas Dewing, 1900

oilTonalismportraitfigureportraitwomandressprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in soft blending and creating subtle tonal variations to depict form and light. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a subject with minimal detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic outline of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even layer of paint or pastel.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the dress, using a mid-tone blue-green.
step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows and folds in the fabric.
step 05
Introduce lighter values to create highlights and suggest the form of the dress.
step 06
Carefully blend the edges of the color areas to create a soft, diffused effect.
step 07
Refine the facial features and hair, using subtle color variations and soft blending.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White

secondary · Burnt Sienna · Raw Umber

Mix Prussian Blue and Yellow Ochre to achieve the blue-green of the dress. Add Titanium White to lighten the colors and create highlights. Use Burnt Sienna and Raw Umber for subtle shading and skin tones.

techniques