plate no. 7509

Summertime. Portrait of Olga Serova

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfigurelandscapetreesfieldhat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, capturing subtle color variations in light and shadow, and creating texture with brushstrokes. It also provides practice in painting portraits and landscapes together.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, the building, the background trees and field.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the background: sky, trees, and field. Use thin washes.
step 03
Block in the main values of the figure: the dress, hat, and skin tones.
step 04
Begin layering paint on the figure, focusing on capturing the light and shadow with visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle color variations in the skin.
step 06
Add details to the dress, using short, textured brushstrokes to create the impression of fabric.
step 07
Refine the background, adding details to the trees and field. Use a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to the entire painting to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix various shades of green for the foliage by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of cadmium yellow. Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·layering
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overblending the brushstrokes, losing the texture and vibrancy of the painting.
→Using too much detail too early, before establishing the basic values and colors.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the light and shadow.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.