plate no. 0129

Girl with a Straw Hat

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigurehatclothingchildhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Add details to the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 05
Render the hat, using short, broken brushstrokes to create the texture of the straw.
step 06
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Darker shadows can be created by adding ivory black to the mixture.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figure.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes that create depth and form.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them properly.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife