plate no. 6208

Head of a Girl

Lucian Freud, 1976

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfigurehairfaceheadgirl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and understanding how to depict form through subtle shifts in value and color temperature. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

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 head, hair, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, mixing colors to match the subtle variations in the face.
step 04
Focus on accurately capturing the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair, paying attention to the direction and flow of the strands.
step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to achieve a cohesive and realistic effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the eyes and lips.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use blue and black sparingly to create cool shadows. Adjust the ratios to match the specific colors in the painting.

techniques