plate no. 9471

Woman in White

Rik Wouters, 1915

oilFauvismportraitfigureportraitwomanchairclothingnecklace

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow on fabric, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It's a good exercise in color mixing and understanding how subtle color variations create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure and chair, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin, clothing, background, and chair.
step 03
Start layering colors, paying attention to the subtle shifts in hue and value.
step 04
Define the shadows and highlights on the face and clothing.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the clothing and chair.
step 07
Add the necklace and any other small details.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive look.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · cadmium yellow light

Mix white with small amounts of blue, red, and yellow to create the various shades of white in the clothing. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the necklace. Mix greens and browns for the background and chair.

techniques