plate no. 3216

Petite fille en robe rouge

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfiguregirlhairdresslace

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding subtle color variations and soft blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the girl, paying attention to the placement of facial features.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, dress, and collar.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using layers of thin paint and soft blending to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Develop the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to suggest texture and volume.
step 06
Add details to the dress and collar, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The dress is primarily red with umber and black added for shadows. The background is a mix of black, blue, and umber.

techniques