plate no. 6818

Auburn Haired Beauty

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitwomanred hairprofiledressfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering soft, diffused lighting. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and hair color.

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, neck, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, blended tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of skin tone, hair, and clothing with broad strokes.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the angles and curves of the nose, lips, and eyes.
step 05
Develop the hair, using layers of color to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the clothing to create a sense of form.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a smooth, realistic finish.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the face and hair.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt sienna and cadmium red for the hair, adding black or blue to darken the tones. Mix black and white for the dress, adding hints of blue or purple for subtle color variations.

techniques