plate no. 9409

Thomas Sergeant Perry Reading a Newspaper

Lilla Cabot Perry, 1924

oilImpressionismportraitfigureportraitnewspaperchairinteriorreading

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly achieving subtle skin tones and rendering fabric textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a sense of atmosphere through light and color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and newspaper.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the main areas of color with thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using a variety of subtle color mixtures and short brushstrokes.
step 04
Work on the details of the chair, paying attention to the pattern and texture of the fabric.
step 05
Render the newspaper, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, adding subtle highlights and shadows to capture the likeness.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · ivory black · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and white for the cool tones in the chair and clothing. Mix black with blue and white for the grays.

techniques