plate no. 3782

The Letter

Agnes Goodsir, 1926

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurelettervasebackgroundclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding subtle color variations in shadows and highlights.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of key elements like the head, hands, and letter.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral colors, paying attention to the vertical stripes and the placement of the vase.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the figure's clothing and head covering with dark, muted tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and proportions of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the skin tones using a limited palette of warm and cool colors, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 06
Add details to the hands and letter, focusing on accurate rendering of form and texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing and head covering, adding subtle highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced and harmonious.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and blue. Use ivory black and raw umber mixed with ultramarine blue for the dark clothing, and add white to create lighter shades.

techniques