plate no. 9814

An Auburn Beauty

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitwomanhairheadbandfigureauburn

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and creating soft, blended transitions. It also provides practice in capturing the texture and form of hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hair.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, blended tone.
step 03
Block in the main skin tones, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Start building up the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to suggest texture and volume.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in tone and color.
step 07
Paint the headband, capturing its form and texture.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final details.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black sparingly to create cooler shadows and subtle variations in tone.

techniques