plate no. 4240

Two Women

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigureswomendraperyportraitsheadscarffoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and drapery, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in simplifying forms and focusing on essential details.

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 placement of the two figures and the foliage.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of warm yellow.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the faces and hands using a mix of dark brown and blue.
step 04
Begin layering lighter tones on the skin, blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the drapery, paying attention to the folds and shadows. Use a limited palette of blues and whites for the left figure, and yellows and whites for the right figure.
step 06
Add details to the faces, such as the eyes, lips, and nose, using small brushes.
step 07
Refine the foliage with greens and browns, keeping it simple and abstract.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and blue for the skin tones, adding small amounts of red for warmth. Achieve the drapery colors by mixing white with small amounts of blue and yellow.

techniques