plate no. 9803

Woman in White

Roderic O'Conor, 1910

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitwomanhatchairindoorfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow on skin tones and clothing using broken color techniques. It will also improve their ability to simplify complex forms into basic shapes and apply expressive brushstrokes.

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 proportions of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color with thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, focusing on capturing the light and shadow patterns on the face and clothing.
step 04
Use broken color techniques to create visual texture and interest in the skin tones and fabric.
step 05
Refine the details of the face and hat, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and color balance as needed.
step 08
Add final details and refine edges.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, red, umber, and a touch of blue. Achieve the hat's brown tones by mixing umber, red, and yellow ochre. Use blue and white to create the cool tones in the background and clothing.

techniques