plate no. 8058
Head of a Girl
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using expressive brushstrokes to define form. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and creating a sense of depth through value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the girl's head, shoulders, and headscarf.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of muted browns and ochres.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and headscarf, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create volume and form, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Develop the details of the clothing and headscarf, capturing the texture and folds of the fabric.
- step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figure, softening some areas and sharpening others to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black
Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber and cadmium red light. Use ivory black sparingly to darken shadows. The headscarf is a mix of cadmium red light and white, muted with burnt umber.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Struggling to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ivory black)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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