plate no. 5190

The Torn Gown

Henry Tonks, 1900

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguredressinteriorfireplaceportraitgown

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in painting fabric textures, especially white on white, and understanding subtle shifts in value to create form. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of a figure in a relaxed pose.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the surrounding interior.
step 02
Establish the overall light and shadow patterns with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin building up the values in the dress, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 04
Introduce subtle color variations in the dress, using cool and warm whites.
step 05
Paint the skin tones, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face and hands.
step 06
Add details to the background, such as the fireplace and the objects on the mantelpiece.
step 07
Refine the details of the dress, including the lace and the torn fabric.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of white by adding small amounts of black, umber, or blue to titanium white. Use alizarin crimson and yellow ochre to create subtle skin tones.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·broken color
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the painting process.
→Using pure white straight from the tube, instead of mixing subtle variations.
→Losing the overall sense of light and shadow by focusing too much on individual details.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the figure.