plate no. 9636

Creole Girl

Matthew Smith, 1924

oilFauvismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingfacehand

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice expressive brushwork and color mixing for skin tones. Recreating this will help students understand how to simplify forms and capture a likeness with bold strokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with dark, broad strokes, paying attention to the areas of red and black.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of warm yellows, oranges, and reds, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Paint the white shirt with loose, visible brushstrokes, using subtle variations of white and gray.
step 05
Add the green sleeve, mixing green with yellow and white for highlights.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add the red accent on the lips.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · ivory black

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber

Mix various shades of skin tones by combining yellow, red, and white, with small amounts of umber for shadows. Use white to lighten colors and black to darken them. Mix green with yellow and white for the sleeve.

techniques