plate no. 1528

How Little She Really Understands Herself

Haddon Sundblom, 1927

oil, canvasNew Realismgenre paintingfigureportraitdiarylampbooksinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing subtle lighting effects, and rendering textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, mixing a range of values and hues to capture the subtle variations.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the clothing and other objects, paying attention to the way the light interacts with the different surfaces.
step 06
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to enhance the realism and visual interest.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · purple

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson to create the purples for the diary.

techniques

·portraiture
·chiaroscuro
·alla prima
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Over-blending and losing the texture of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Ignoring the importance of the background in creating a sense of depth.
→Not paying attention to the way the light interacts with the different surfaces.