plate no. 5347

Hèléna

oil, woodRealismportraitfigureportraitwindowbuildingcityscapehair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate skin tone mixing and rendering realistic fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and perspective in a cityscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a detailed sketch of the figure and the background, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure.
step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones and shadows on the figure, focusing on the form and anatomy.
step 04
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add highlights to the hair and clothing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 06
Paint the details of the cityscape, paying attention to the perspective and the way the light hits the buildings.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the buttons on the dress and the reflections in the window.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. The blue dress is created by mixing ultramarine blue with white, and small amounts of black for shadows.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·color mixing
·blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions in the figure.
→Muddy skin tones due to overmixing.
→Flat or lifeless rendering of the fabric.
→Lack of depth in the cityscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, raw umber, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags