plate no. 9953

Head of a little girl (Elsbeth)

Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1902

board, temperaExpressionismportraitportraitfiguregirlhairfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, using visible brushstrokes to create texture, and mixing skin tones with a limited palette. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in the face and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hair, and clothing onto the board.
step 02
Apply a thin, dark underpainting to establish the background and shadow areas.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, starting with a base of orange and adding red for cheeks and yellow for highlights.
step 04
Use short, directional brushstrokes to build up texture on the face, following the contours of the features.
step 05
Paint the hair with long, flowing brushstrokes, layering different shades of brown and orange.
step 06
Add details to the eyes and mouth, paying attention to their shape and placement.
step 07
Paint the clothing with vertical brushstrokes, using a mix of blues and purples.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining burnt sienna, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create dark browns and greens for the background and shadows. Add small amounts of black to darken colors.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·layering
·directional brushstrokes
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Using too much black, making the painting look muddy.
→Ignoring the direction of the brushstrokes, leading to a lack of texture and form.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the face.

materials

surface · gessoed board

required

·gessoed board
·burnt sienna oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·cadmium red light oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium (e.g. Liquin)
·easel

A smooth gessoed board is ideal for this painting to allow for the textured brushstrokes to stand out. Tempera is listed as the original medium, but oil paint is more approachable for beginners.

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