plate no. 0677

Head of a girl

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurehairfaceeyeslips

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in blending and layering paint to create smooth transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, hair, and facial features.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of ochre and brown.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the hair, using variations of red, brown, and black to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle shading.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use blue and black sparingly to create shadows and depth.

techniques

·blending
·layering
·color mixing
·portraiture
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Incorrect proportions of facial features.
→Ignoring subtle variations in skin tone.
→Overworking the painting and losing freshness.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits

optional