plate no. 8870

Girl with Pomegranates

Eugene de Blaas, 1912

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitfigurepomegranatesbasketclothingfoliageportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practicing fabric folds and still life elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, basket, and main elements.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, focusing on the overall color and value.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and shadows on the face and hands.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the clothing, paying attention to folds and highlights.
step 05
Paint the pomegranates, focusing on their round forms and variations in color.
step 06
Add details to the basket, capturing its texture and form.
step 07
Refine the facial features and add subtle details to the background.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre · viridian

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create greens for the background by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for darker shadows.

techniques