plate no. 1860
Pensive girl (Innocence)
Léon Bazile Perrault, 1904
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and conveying emotion, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background tones and the overall light direction.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figure's clothing and skin tones.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the clothing to create depth.
- step 06
Add details to the hands, cloth, and plates.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of realism and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Burnt Umber · Titanium White
secondary · Yellow Ochre · Cadmium Red Light · Ivory Black
Mix various shades of blue by combining Prussian Blue with white and a touch of Burnt Umber. Create skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of red. Use Burnt Umber and black to create the dark background.
techniques
- ·Blending
- ·Scumbling
- ·Glazing
- ·Chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of skin tones.
- →Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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