plate no. 5133

Woman Before a Mirror

oil, canvasImpressionismgenre paintingfiguremirrorreflectiondressinteriorhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with broken color and loose brushwork, as well as understanding how to suggest form with color temperature changes.

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 composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and mirror.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the figure, using a limited palette of warm and cool tones.
step 04
Begin adding details to the dress and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Refine the reflections in the mirror, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the mirror frame to create depth.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to create a sense of harmony.
step 08
Add final details and refine edges as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix various shades of skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the different shades of blue in the dress and reflection.

techniques