plate no. 2654
Woman in Blue Dress
Victor Borisov-Musatov, 1903
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in capturing light and shadow with broken color and creating a sense of depth through layering and atmospheric perspective. Students will develop skills in portraiture and rendering fabric textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, dress, and background elements.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with thin washes of color, focusing on the background.
- step 03
Block in the main values of the figure, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Develop the details of the dress, using broken color to create texture and pattern.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, using subtle color variations to create form.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Work on the background flowers and foliage, using loose brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add final details and adjustments to unify the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · rose madder · viridian green · burnt umber
Mix various shades of blue and green by combining ultramarine blue, white, yellow ochre, and viridian green. Achieve the pink tones by mixing rose madder with white and a touch of yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Ignoring the underlying structure of the figure.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·rags
optional
- ·easel
- ·view finder
- ·retarder medium
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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