plate no. 3095

Woman Sitting on a Red Flowered Sofa

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitwomansofadressflowerpainting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing fabric texture, and using impressionistic brushstrokes to create form and light. Students will also learn to mix subtle color variations to create depth and dimension.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the woman, sofa, and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: the red of the sofa, the dark tones of the dress, and the skin tones.
step 03
Start building up the texture of the sofa with short, broken brushstrokes of varying reds and oranges.
step 04
Develop the form of the dress using darker blues and blacks, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 05
Carefully mix and apply the skin tones, using subtle variations to create highlights and shadows.
step 06
Add the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 07
Paint the flower with delicate strokes of white, purple, and green.
step 08
Refine the overall composition by adjusting the values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · red · blue · black · white

secondary · orange · purple · green · yellow

Mix various shades of red by adding small amounts of orange, brown, or black. Create the dark blues and blacks of the dress by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.

techniques