plate no. 9472

The Farewell

oil, panelAcademicismportraitfiguredressarchitecturedoorwayportraitfabric

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic fabric folds and capturing subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and accurate proportions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the doorway.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a mid-tone wash.
step 03
Block in the local colors of the dress, skin, and background.
step 04
Refine the values and colors, paying attention to subtle shifts in tone.
step 05
Add details to the face, hands, and fabric folds.
step 06
Create texture in the brickwork using dry brush techniques.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cerulean blue · viridian green · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of pink for the dress by combining alizarin crimson and titanium white, adjusting the ratio for highlights and shadows. Achieve skin tones by blending yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and titanium white, adding small amounts of burnt umber for darker areas.

techniques