plate no. 8855

Girl with green scarf

Le Pho, 1982

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigurescarfflowersvasemirrorinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color blending and creating a sense of depth through layering and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering soft, diffused light and delicate fabrics.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on the figure's pose and the placement of objects.
step 02
Establish the background colors with thin washes, working from dark to light.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figure and objects, paying attention to the overall color harmony.
step 04
Begin blending the colors on the figure to create smooth transitions and soft edges.
step 05
Add details to the face, hands, and flowers, using small brushes and subtle color variations.
step 06
Refine the background and add any remaining details, such as the reflections in the mirror.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to adjust the overall tone and create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Create the green scarf by blending viridian with white and a hint of yellow ochre. Mix the background blues by varying the amount of ultramarine blue and white.

techniques