plate no. 7360

The Necklace

Thomas Dewing, 1907

oilTonalismportraitfigureportraitdressinteriorvasepainting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and the human form in a soft, tonalist style.

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 placement of the figure and key elements.
step 02
Establish the overall tonal range with a thin wash of a neutral color like raw umber.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: the wall, the dress, and the figure's skin tones.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the form and create depth, focusing on subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 05
Pay close attention to the lighting and shadows, using soft blending to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 06
Add details to the figure's face and hands, refining the features and expression.
step 07
Develop the texture of the dress with delicate brushstrokes and glazes.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · viridian · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and white. Create the skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use raw umber to darken values and create shadows.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·soft blending
·atmospheric perspective
·tonal painting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating harsh lines or edges that break the soft, atmospheric effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the dress and background.
→Ignoring the importance of value in creating depth and form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, viridian, titanium white, raw umber, alizarin crimson)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags