plate no. 8885
Marion Sadeghi-Nejad
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and hair, as well as understanding and applying chiaroscuro to create depth and form. It also provides practice in capturing subtle color variations and creating a sense of atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
- step 03
Focus on establishing the correct skin tones, mixing colors carefully and applying them in layers.
- step 04
Develop the details of the hair, paying attention to the direction of the light and the individual strands.
- step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, capturing the folds and shadows.
- step 06
Work on the background screen, adding the decorative elements and creating a sense of depth.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a harmonious and balanced composition.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · raw sienna
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Dark areas use black and burnt umber. The screen uses a mix of raw sienna, burnt umber, and black.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the hair.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and speed up drying time.
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