plate no. 8266

Irena Solska

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanhairclothinghands

some experience helpful

Recreating this pastel drawing will help students develop skills in portrait sketching, color layering, and creating texture with pastel strokes. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in skin tones and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and hands using a pencil.
step 02
Establish the main proportions and angles of the figure.
step 03
Begin layering pastel colors to define the skin tones, starting with light pinks and purples.
step 04
Add warmer tones like orange and brown to the hair, using short, broken strokes.
step 05
Block in the colors of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add details like the bracelet and hair clip.
step 08
Blend and soften the pastel strokes where needed, using a blending stump or your finger.

color palette

primary · light blue · pink · orange · green

secondary · purple · brown · dark blue

Mix pinks with white and a touch of purple for skin tones. Achieve the blue of the dress by layering light and dark blues with hints of green. Use browns and oranges for the hair, layering to create depth.

techniques