plate no. 5921

Study for Augusta Reading to Her Daughter

Mary Cassatt, 1910

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfigurechilddressbackgroundgreen

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing light and shadow with simplified forms. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth 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 shapes of the figure and background, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, background, and bench.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using a mix of warm and cool colors to create depth.
step 04
Add details to the dress, using loose brushstrokes to suggest folds and texture.
step 05
Develop the background with varying shades of green, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 06
Refine the features of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Add the signature.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red · viridian green

secondary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the greens by mixing viridian green with yellow and white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to darken the greens.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·color mixing
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Not establishing a clear focal point.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green, burnt umber, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags