plate no. 6396

Young Woman In Green Outdoors In The Sun

Mary Cassatt, 1914

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitfigureportraithatdressoutdoorsunlight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, particularly in capturing light and shadow on skin tones, and in using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and form.

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 of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall values.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to define the shadows and highlights on the face and clothing.
step 04
Develop the background with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 06
Add details to the hat and dress, capturing the texture and folds.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and values to create a sense of harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow

Mix skin tones by blending burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and white, adding small amounts of blue or green to adjust the temperature. Achieve the blues and greens by mixing ultramarine blue, viridian green, and white.

techniques