plate no. 4341

Petite Fille

Michel Kikoine, 1950

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguregirlhairclothingbow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, loose brushwork, and capturing likeness with simplified forms. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and creating a sense of depth with subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the girl's head, shoulders, and features.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background.
step 03
Start refining the skin tones, using a mix of warm and cool colors to create depth and form.
step 04
Add details to the hair, using loose brushstrokes to suggest texture and movement.
step 05
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Work on the clothing, using a limited palette to create a sense of unity.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and dimension.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, making sure that the focal point is clear and that the painting is balanced.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by combining burnt sienna, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create shadows and cool tones.

techniques

·loose brushwork
·color mixing
·portraiture
·alla prima
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Getting the proportions wrong and distorting the likeness of the subject.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy or chaotic effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (burnt sienna, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits