plate no. 6497

Tess Kroll Pergament, the Artist's Sister

Leon Kroll, 1912

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguredresscushionspaintinginterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and patterns with paint.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, cushion, and background painting, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color, focusing on the dress and cushion.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle variations in color to create form and light.
step 04
Add details to the dress, including the stripes and folds, using a combination of blending and layering.
step 05
Work on the cushion, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and pattern.
step 06
Refine the background painting, capturing its abstract quality and color palette.
step 07
Add final details, such as the jewelry and the string in the figure's hand.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine with white and small amounts of burnt sienna to create depth. Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson, adjusting the ratios for highlights and shadows.

techniques

·portrait painting
·fabric rendering
·broken color
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value that create form.
→Getting lost in the details of the fabric pattern and losing sight of the overall composition.
→Ignoring the importance of accurate proportions in the initial sketch.