plate no. 6242
Marcella
Christian Schad, 1926
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in the background.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of key elements like the cat and buildings.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin tones, dress, background buildings, and the black cat.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value to create a realistic effect.
- step 04
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds and shadows, and the flower.
- step 05
Work on the background buildings, using lighter tones and less detail to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Add details to the cat, including the eyes, fur texture, and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced image.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · flesh tint · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black
secondary · rose madder · cerulean blue · yellow ochre
Mix flesh tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create muted background colors by mixing complementary colors.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·rendering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
- →Making the background too detailed and distracting from the main subject.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the figure and the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retarder medium
- ·painting easel
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider using a medium to slow down the drying time of the paints.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
