plate no. 3687

22, Girl with Pearls,16x20in, 2017, Oil,Sv

Lana Kanyo, 2019

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfigurehairpearlsdressface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone blending, and rendering realistic hair. It also provides practice in creating a focal point through value contrast and detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the face, hair, and dress on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a solid layer of black paint.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and hair using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle color variations.
step 05
Paint the hair, focusing on capturing the highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 06
Add details to the dress, including the lace trim and folds.
step 07
Paint the pearl headband, carefully rendering the highlights and shadows on each pearl.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber for shadows and ultramarine blue to cool down the skin tones. Hair color is a mix of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white, with touches of red for warmth.

techniques

·blending
·layering
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the face.
→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the hair.
→Ignoring the importance of highlights and shadows in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
·flat brushes (sizes 6, 8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags