plate no. 7148

Study of LIght and Reflection

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguredresswindowtreeslight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and capturing the effects of light and shadow on a figure. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through brushwork and color variations.

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, window, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the main areas of color (dress, skin, background).
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of color, paying attention to the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Refine the details of the dress, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Develop the background, focusing on capturing the impressionistic quality of the trees and light.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, being careful to maintain the overall impressionistic style.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue and white for the dress. Achieve skin tones by blending burnt sienna, white, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use a mix of blues, greens, and yellows for the background foliage.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·color mixing
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic quality.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags