plate no. 1651

Maud

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfigurehairfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practice blending and layering techniques to create soft transitions and subtle 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 head, shoulders, and hair.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in value and hue.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Develop the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Refine the clothing and background, adding details and adjusting values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · viridian · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, and umber, adjusting the proportions to achieve the desired hue and value. Use viridian and white to create the pale green of the dress. Darken colors with ivory black.

techniques