plate no. 3223

The Lady in the Yellow Blouse

Robert Falk, 1910

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfigureclothingwomanhandsblouse

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and practice layering brushstrokes to create form and texture. It also provides an opportunity to study portrait proportions and capturing a likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, blouse, background, and dark fabric.
step 03
Start refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the blouse, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest the ruffles and folds.
step 05
Work on the hands, carefully observing the shapes and shadows.
step 06
Refine the background, blending the colors to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix skin tones by blending white, burnt sienna, and small amounts of alizarin crimson and yellow ochre. Achieve the green in the blouse by mixing yellow and blue, and adjust the hue with white or a touch of red.

techniques

·color mixing
·layering
·broken color
·portraiture
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions.
→Focusing too much on detail too early in the process.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow light, alizarin crimson, viridian)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags