plate no. 3133

Little brat

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitchildgirlclothingjewelryhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as rendering complex textures like hair and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the girl on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of warm brown tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and clothing, focusing on accurate placement.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the hair by painting individual strands and clusters, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 06
Refine the details of the clothing, jewelry, and facial features.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for shadows, and add blue to cool down the tones. Mix browns with blue and red to create the darker colors of the dress.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
→Making the hair look flat and lifeless.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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