plate no. 1133

Girl with a Mandolin

oil, canvasRococoportraitfigureportraitinstrumentclothinghairbackground

experienced study

Recreating this painting will develop skills in portraiture, including accurate skin tone mixing and rendering of light and shadow on the human form. Students will also learn to depict fabric folds and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions of the figure and instrument.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and instrument.
step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
step 06
Refine the instrument, focusing on its shape and details.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face, hair, and clothing.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine sparingly to cool down skin tones. Browns and yellows are mixed to create the instrument's color, with darker values for shadows.

techniques