plate no. 3184
The Umbrella
Marie Bashkirtseff, 1883
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and using a limited palette to create depth and form. It also provides practice in depicting textures and rendering a convincing umbrella shape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, umbrella, and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
- step 03
Begin blocking in the main areas of color, focusing on the darks of the umbrella and clothing.
- step 04
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add texture to the umbrella and clothing using visible brushstrokes.
- step 07
Adjust the background to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light
Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and small amounts of burnt sienna and cadmium red. Use ivory black and raw umber for the umbrella, lightening with white for highlights.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·limited palette
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·value study
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the face.
- →Making the umbrella too uniform in color and texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial value study.
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