plate no. 7316

Girl Holding a Dove

oilBaroqueportraitfigureportraitbirddraperyhanddark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as understanding chiaroscuro and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, bird, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, blended tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and drapery with mid-tones.
step 04
Begin layering highlights and shadows on the face, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Develop the form of the bird, using dark tones and subtle highlights.
step 06
Refine the details of the hands, capturing the delicate structure and subtle color variations.
step 07
Add details to the drapery, creating folds and highlights to suggest form.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, and a touch of red. Achieve depth in shadows by adding ivory black to raw umber. Use thin glazes to build up color gradually.

techniques