plate no. 5089
A Woman
Piero di Cosimo, 1510
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering subtle skin tones and drapery folds. It also provides practice in achieving a smooth, blended finish.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, headscarf, and clothing, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Block in the background with a solid layer of black.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones with a light, neutral color.
- step 04
Begin layering in shadows and highlights on the face, gradually building up the form.
- step 05
Paint the headscarf, focusing on capturing the subtle variations in color and the folds of the fabric.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, keeping the values dark and consistent.
- step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 08
Add the hand and leaf detail, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
color palette
primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · raw umber · burnt sienna
Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber or burnt sienna. Use ivory black straight from the tube for the background and clothing. Achieve the headscarf color by mixing white and yellow ochre, and adding small amounts of raw umber for shadows.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in color in the headscarf.
- →Making the background too light or uneven.
- →Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface is recommended for achieving a blended finish.
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