plate no. 4208
The Portrait of Mrs. Emmy Frosterus
Magnus Enckell, 1909
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing light and shadow with simplified forms. It also provides practice in depicting fabric folds and creating a sense of atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, umbrella, and background.
- step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the skin, dress, and background.
- step 03
Begin layering colors within each area, focusing on capturing the subtle variations in tone.
- step 04
Use short, visible brushstrokes to build up texture and form.
- step 05
Pay attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to suggest the form of the figure and the folds of the dress.
- step 06
Refine the details of the face and hands, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
- step 07
Add the details of the umbrella, using thin lines and washes of color.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a harmonious composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium red light · viridian green
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the cool tones in the dress and background. Mix greens with blue and yellow.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry
- ·color layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Using too much detail and not simplifying the forms.
- →Not paying attention to the color temperature of the light and shadow.
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of yellow ochre before starting.
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