plate no. 4010

Eva Von Arnheim

Christian Schad, 1930

oilMagic Realismportraitportraitfigureskyhairclothingfur

some experience helpful

This painting provides an opportunity to practice smooth blending techniques for skin tones and subtle color variations in hair. Students can also learn to create realistic textures, like the fur stole, using layering and glazing.

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 figure and background.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and sky.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, focusing on subtle value changes and smooth blending.
step 04
Add details to the hair, using thin layers to build up color and create highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 06
Create the fur texture using small, controlled brushstrokes and layering.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it remains soft and subtle.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium red light. Hair color can be created using various mixtures of burnt umber, ivory black, and yellow ochre. The sky is a blend of titanium white and ultramarine blue.

techniques