plate no. 6955

Little girl

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfiguregirlhairclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in layering and blending oil paints to achieve subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders using a light pencil.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the background and major areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Refine the clothing and background, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of brown and grey by combining raw umber, white, and small amounts of red and blue. Achieve skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of raw umber.

techniques