plate no. 1796

Coi Burrus as the American Sappho

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfigurewomanfabricbookjewelry

experienced study

Recreating this painting would help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate skin tone mixing and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on accurate proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the fabric, focusing on capturing the folds and textures.
step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Refine the details of the book and jewelry.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue for subtle variations. Use ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson to create the purples in the fabric.

techniques