plate no. 8209

Maria Young Girl In A Moravian Costume

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurewomanflowersclothingheadscarf

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric folds and floral details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with light, blended washes of green and blue.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and headscarf, using thin washes.
step 04
Begin to build up the values in the face, paying attention to the subtle transitions between light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the folds and wrinkles, using a combination of thin washes and thicker strokes.
step 06
Paint the floral details in the headscarf and hair, focusing on capturing the shapes and colors of the petals.
step 07
Refine the details of the hands, paying attention to the anatomy and the way the light falls on them.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cerulean blue · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use varying amounts of red and umber to create warm and cool shadows. Mix greens and blues for the background, adding white to lighten the values.

techniques