plate no. 4154

Woman in Striped Dress

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresschairhatbook

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and achieving soft, diffused lighting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Begin blocking in the skin tones, using thin washes and building up layers gradually.
step 04
Paint the dress, paying attention to the stripes and how they conform to the form.
step 05
Render the hat, focusing on the details of the stripes and tassel.
step 06
Paint the chair and background, using soft, muted colors.
step 07
Add details such as the jewelry, book, and facial features.
step 08
Refine the values and colors, ensuring a harmonious overall effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · viridian

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use viridian and white for the green stripes, and mix red and brown for the hat.

techniques