plate no. 3479

Young Woman in a Yellow Dress (Madame Modot)

Amedeo Modigliani, 1918

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitwomandressfigurechairbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying forms and capturing a likeness with expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in color mixing and creating a harmonious palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, background.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the unique characteristics of the subject.
step 04
Add the details of the dress, including the small floral pattern.
step 05
Develop the background with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Adjust the values and colors to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
step 08
Review and refine the overall composition and details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Mix various yellows with small amounts of burnt sienna and white for the dress. Use red and white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of yellow and blue to adjust the hue. Achieve the background colors by mixing black, umber, and yellow.

techniques