plate no. 6936

Little Girl With Flowery Headscarf

Nicolae Tonitza, 1925

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigureheadscarfflowergirlclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex patterns and rendering fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, headscarf, and flower, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of a warm, neutral color to the background.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, headscarf, and clothing using simplified shapes.
step 04
Mix and apply skin tones, focusing on subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 05
Add the dark tones of the headscarf, building up layers of color and texture with visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the floral pattern on the headscarf and clothing, simplifying the shapes and colors.
step 07
Add the flower in the background, using a limited palette of warm colors.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium yellow light

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the dark tones of the headscarf by mixing black, blue, and a touch of red. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques