plate no. 6787
Monjita
Julio Romero de Torres, 1930
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and drapery. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere with a limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the background elements.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure.
- step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the face and drapery, using thin washes of color.
- step 04
Begin to refine the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the folds and textures of the drapery, using a combination of blending and layering techniques.
- step 06
Add details to the background, such as the building and the tree.
- step 07
Refine the edges and transitions between different areas of the painting.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use ivory black and raw umber to create the darker tones in the background and drapery. Add small amounts of ultramarine to darken shadows and create cooler tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source, leading to inconsistent shadows.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Using too much paint, resulting in a muddy and overworked painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·easel
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before beginning to paint.
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