plate no. 6550
Girl with a Marmot
Jean-Honore Fragonard, 1790
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the head, shoulders, and box.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, using thin washes of paint.
- step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, using a limited palette of colors and blending carefully.
- step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Work on the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 06
Paint the box, adding details such as the hinges and clasps.
- step 07
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow
secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow, and a touch of red. Use umber and black to create shadows and depth.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the figure.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create depth.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted round brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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