plate no. 7989

A girl doing the grocery bill

oil, canvasRomanticismgenre paintingportraitfigurebasketclothingfoliagedomestic scene

experienced study

Students would develop skills in portrait painting, particularly facial features and expression, while learning to handle complex fabric textures and the interplay of warm and cool tones in figure work.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a careful contour drawing, mapping the figure's proportions and pose
step 02
Block in the major value masses - dark clothing, mid-tone flesh, light cap and collar
step 03
Establish the background foliage using dark greens and browns
step 04
Develop the face with careful attention to proportions and lighting
step 05
Paint the white cap and collar, paying attention to how fabric folds catch light
step 06
Render the dark clothing with subtle variations to show form
step 07
Add the wicker basket texture using varied brushwork
step 08
Refine facial features, expression, and final details

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue

Mix flesh tones using white, raw sienna, and touches of cadmium red. Create rich darks by mixing burnt umber with ultramarine blue rather than using pure black.

techniques