plate no. 8121
Georgette
Marie Bashkirtseff, 1881
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and floral details using loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and clothing.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark brown and gray.
- step 03
Block in the main skin tones, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Paint the hat and roses, using a variety of pinks, yellows, and browns.
- step 06
Render the clothing and scarf, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
- step 07
Add final details and refine the painting as needed.
- step 08
Glaze to create depth and unify the colors.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the blue-gray of the clothing by mixing white, ultramarine blue, and a touch of raw umber. Create the rose colors by mixing white, red, and a touch of brown.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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