plate no. 3108
Female Portrait
some experience helpful
This painting provides an opportunity to practice portraiture basics and explore limited color palettes. Students can learn to create form using subtle value changes and visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
- step 02
Establish the dark background using a mix of browns and blacks.
- step 03
Block in the skin tones with a base layer of light ochre and white.
- step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the face, focusing on the cheekbones, nose, and eyes.
- step 05
Paint the hair using dark browns and blacks, following the direction of the strands.
- step 06
Define the clothing with dark reds and browns, adding highlights to create form.
- step 07
Refine the details of the face, such as the eyes, lips, and eyebrows.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the entire painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by combining raw sienna, white, and a touch of red. Darken colors with burnt umber and black. Use red and white for the lips and cheeks.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·value shading
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Using too much paint and losing the texture.
- →Incorrect proportions of the face.
- →Not establishing a strong value structure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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