plate no. 5171

Head of a woman

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurewomanhairfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value transitions to create form. It also offers practice in rendering complex textures like 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 and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hair.
step 02
Establish the overall background tone with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using diluted washes.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the form of the face, paying attention to subtle value changes.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Work on the hair, defining the curls with a combination of light and dark tones.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the subject.
step 08
Refine the background and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Mix raw umber and white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna for warmth. Use ultramarine blue and white for the clothing, and mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the hair.

techniques