plate no. 6730

Golden Tresses

pencil, watercolorRomanticismportraitfigureportraithairtableobjectswindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and hair, and rendering textures of fabric and various objects. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light pencil sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure, hair, and objects on the table.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of brown and gold, leaving space for the figure and other elements.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones with a mix of reds, yellows, and whites, building up the values gradually.
step 04
Paint the hair using a variety of reds, oranges, and browns, paying attention to the direction of the strands and the highlights.
step 05
Add the details of the dress, using a light grey or white with subtle shadows to create folds and texture.
step 06
Paint the objects on the table, focusing on their shapes, colors, and textures.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing red, yellow, and white, adjusting the proportions to create highlights and shadows. Mix browns and oranges for the hair, using darker shades for the shadows and lighter shades for the highlights.

techniques