plate no. 4904

Girl in Bed

Lucian Freud, 1952

oil, canvasContemporary Realismportraitportraitfigurebedhairfacehand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and capturing subtle expressions. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure and bed on the canvas, paying attention to proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of grey.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of yellow ochre, white, and a touch of red.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, adding highlights and shadows to define the form of the face and hands.
step 05
Paint the hair, using variations of yellow ochre and burnt umber to create depth and texture.
step 06
Render the bedsheets, using white and grey to depict the folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · grey

Skin tones are achieved by mixing yellow ochre, white, and small amounts of red. Vary the proportions to create highlights and shadows. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create a neutral grey.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Getting lost in details too early.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, cadmium red)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·mineral spirits
·rags