plate no. 9038

Girl in a Red Hat

Oleksandr Murashko, 1903

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurehatdresshairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and the vibrant red of the hat.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, hat, and overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral tones, leaving some areas lighter to suggest light.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the red hat, the dark dress, and the skin tones.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the dress, using darker values to create depth.
step 06
Add details to the hat, capturing the texture and form of the fabric.
step 07
Refine the hair, using loose brushstrokes to suggest individual strands.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face and hat to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. The red hat is a pure cadmium red light, possibly with a touch of alizarin crimson for darker areas. The dress is primarily black with subtle variations created by mixing in burnt umber and raw sienna.

techniques