plate no. 0564

With a Blue Robe

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguredresswaterboatsbuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also offers practice in rendering fabric and simple architectural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of blended blues and grays.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall form and pose.
step 04
Mix and apply the base skin tone, gradually adding highlights and shadows to define the facial features and body contours.
step 05
Paint the dress with vertical stripes, varying the shades of blue to create dimension.
step 06
Add details to the background buildings and boats, keeping them soft and muted.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, hands, and dress, paying attention to subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine blue with white and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve skin tones by blending burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white, adding small amounts of red for warmth.

techniques