plate no. 5979

The Fortune-Teller (Woman in Yellow Dress)

Helene Schjerfbeck, 1926

oilExpressionismportraitportraitwomandressfigureneutral background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified portraiture, color mixing with a limited palette, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It will also teach how to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely.

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 and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of burnt umber and white, creating subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of white, burnt umber, and a touch of red.
step 04
Paint the hair in broad strokes of black, leaving some areas lighter to suggest form.
step 05
Block in the dress with a base of yellow and white, then add the circular patterns with darker yellows and browns.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add subtle highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Adjust the overall composition and details as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium yellow · red oxide · black

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Vary the proportions to create subtle variations in tone. The dress color is achieved by mixing white and yellow ochre, with cadmium yellow used for brighter accents.

techniques