plate no. 1109

Head of girl. Portrait of Z. S. Khaminova.

Vasily Surikov, 1908

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureflowershairdresslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering soft, diffused light. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using a variety of subtle color mixtures.
step 04
Define the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair and flowers, using small, deliberate brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
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 · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use ultramarine blue and white for the background water, adding touches of red and umber for variation.

techniques