plate no. 1991
Woman in ink Dress and Black Collar
Jozsef Rippl-Ronai, 1915
some experience helpful
This painting is a good exercise in capturing soft light and shadow on skin tones and simplifying shapes to create a portrait. Students will practice blending pastels and creating subtle color transitions.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, neck, and shoulders.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, dress, and background.
- step 03
Begin blending the skin tones, focusing on the subtle shifts in value.
- step 04
Add the darker values for the hair and collar, paying attention to the edges.
- step 05
Refine the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Develop the details of the dress, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Soften the edges of the shapes to create a more diffused effect.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · flesh tones (yellow ochre, white, a touch of red) · pink · black
secondary · light blue · grey · brown
Mix flesh tones by gradually adding small amounts of red and yellow ochre to white. Use grey to tone down the pink for the dress.
techniques
- ·pastel blending
- ·soft edges
- ·color layering
- ·value control
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the pastel
- →Creating harsh lines
- →Using too much pressure
- →Not blending enough
materials
surface · pastel paper
required
- ·pastel set
- ·pastel paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stumps
- ·fixative spray
- ·soft cloth
optional
- ·workable fixative
- ·palette knife
- ·drawing board
Use a sanded pastel paper for better color adhesion. Work in a well-ventilated area when using fixative.
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