plate no. 7281

Girl with Red Rose

John William Godward, 1902

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigurerosedraperyhairclassical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as rendering soft drapery and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, rose, and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the drapery, focusing on the folds and how they catch the light.
step 05
Render the rose, capturing its delicate petals and vibrant color.
step 06
Add details to the hair, including highlights and individual strands.
step 07
Refine the background, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and umber. Use alizarin crimson and cadmium red for the rose. Mix greens from blue and yellow.

techniques