plate no. 7789

Girl from back, Luisita

Carlos Saenz de Tejada, 1917

oilImpressionismportraitfigureportraitbackhairbowskin

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing for skin tones and understanding light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in capturing the delicate curves and contours of the human figure.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of brown and green tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of skin tone with a mid-tone mixture.
step 04
Begin layering lighter and darker values to define the form of the back, shoulders, and neck.
step 05
Carefully blend the transitions between light and shadow to create a soft, luminous effect.
step 06
Add the details of the hair and the bow, using darker values to create contrast.
step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figure to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light · sap green

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for shadows and hair. Add green to the background to create depth.

techniques