plate no. 5908
Adolescente
Antonietta Raphael, 1928
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in portraiture, focusing on skin tones and capturing a likeness, while also exploring textured brushwork and a limited color palette. Students can learn to create depth and form using subtle value changes and layering.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of color.
- step 03
Begin layering skin tones, mixing variations of red, yellow, and brown.
- step 04
Develop the hair, using darker values and directional brushstrokes.
- step 05
Add details to the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Define the background and decorative border with textured brushwork.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding highlights.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by blending burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and white, adding small amounts of red or umber to adjust the warmth and value. Use black sparingly to darken shadows.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·portrait sketching
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Ignoring the underlying structure of the face.
- →Using too much black, making the painting look dull.
- →Failing to create enough variation in skin tones.
- →Getting lost in details too early.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·medium gloss
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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