plate no. 3621

Girl with shawl

oil, canvasRealismportraitfigureportraitshawlfabrichead coveringface

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones and the subtle folds and highlights of draped fabric. Students will also develop their ability to create a soft, diffused light effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and shawl.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, hand, and shawl using mid-tones.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending colors, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 05
Develop the folds and highlights of the shawl, using a lighter value for the highlights and a darker value for the shadows.
step 06
Add the floral pattern to the shawl using a fine brush and a muted gold color.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, and small amounts of cadmium red. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create the gold color for the floral pattern. Add a touch of ivory black to darken shadows.

techniques

·blending
·layering
·glazing
·scumbling
·soft edges

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in value and hue.
→Making the floral pattern too prominent or detailed.
→Ignoring the importance of soft edges in creating a sense of atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife