plate no. 8665
Girl with Headscarf
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through layering and subtle value changes. Students will also learn to simplify complex patterns and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the main areas of color with thin washes.
- step 03
Build up the skin tones using layers of subtle color variations.
- step 04
Define the features of the face, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 05
Paint the headscarf, capturing its folds and texture.
- step 06
Add the details of the dress and rosary.
- step 07
Refine the background and furniture, simplifying the details.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · cerulean blue · alizarin crimson · viridian
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of raw umber. Create the red dress by mixing cadmium red with a touch of alizarin crimson. Muted greens and blues are used for the background.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the paint.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Making the colors too bright and saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·viridian oil paint
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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