plate no. 1874

Noia Amb Flors

oilSymbolismportraitportraitfigureflowershairprofiledress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing subtle skin tones and rendering soft, diffused lighting. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes and depicting floral arrangements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, focusing on proportions and the angle of the head.
step 02
Block in the background with dark, muted tones, establishing the overall value range.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the hair, using loose brushstrokes to suggest texture and movement.
step 05
Block in the general shapes and colors of the flowers, paying attention to their arrangement and form.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the dress to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details to the flowers, using small brushstrokes to create texture and interest.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Darken shadows with ivory black and raw umber. Mix red and white for the pink hues in the flowers.

techniques