plate no. 0859

Lady in profile with hat

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitwomanhatprofilefigureclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle tonal variations and using expressive brushwork to create form and texture. It also provides practice in simplifying a complex subject into essential shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions and the angle of the profile.
step 02
Establish the background with loose, textured brushstrokes using warm yellows, oranges, and browns.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the hat and clothing with a dark mixture, leaving some areas undefined to maintain a sense of mystery.
step 04
Begin to define the facial features, focusing on the subtle shifts in value to create form. Use a limited palette of skin tones.
step 05
Add highlights to the face and hat to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 07
Add subtle color variations to the clothing and hat to create visual interest.
step 08
Review the painting as a whole and make any necessary adjustments to the composition, values, and colors.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for dark areas, adding blue for cooler shadows. Create the background with variations of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·tonal layering
·limited palette
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the face, resulting in a stiff or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, leading to a flat or muddy painting.
→Using too many colors, resulting in a chaotic or unbalanced composition.
→Ignoring the importance of edges, causing the forms to appear disconnected.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags