plate no. 9794

Girl With Crown

Stefan Caltia, 2005

oilMagic Realismgenre paintingfiguredresswreathportraitdark backgroundgirl

some experience helpful

This painting allows students to practice creating a focal point with limited colors and explore subtle variations in tone to create form. It also offers a chance to work on rendering fabric and delicate details like the wreath.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, background, and floor, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the background, the floor, and the dress, using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the values in the background, creating a sense of depth and shadow.
step 04
Develop the form of the dress, using subtle variations in white and gray to suggest folds and light.
step 05
Paint the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle color shifts and shadows on the face and hands.
step 06
Add the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Carefully paint the wreath, using small brushstrokes to create the individual leaves.
step 08
Add the final details, such as the blue trim on the dress and the red ribbon in the hair.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix various shades of white with raw umber and a touch of blue to create the subtle tones in the dress. Use ultramarine blue and white for the floor. Mix raw umber with black for the dark background.

techniques