plate no. 5759
Lucy (Study)
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as developing skills in loose, expressive brushwork and creating depth through value and color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Develop the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and warmth.
- step 04
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, using loose brushstrokes to capture its texture.
- step 06
Refine the clothing, using subtle color variations to create form.
- step 07
Adjust the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber. Darken colors with burnt umber or ivory black, and lighten with white.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·color layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
- →Getting the proportions wrong and distorting the likeness.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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