plate no. 4149

Portrait de la Princesse Nawal Toussoun

Leonor Fini, 1952

oilMagic Realismportraitportraitwomancatdresshairjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending, as well as rendering fur texture and fabric folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, cat, and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a mid-tone underpainting.
step 03
Block in the local colors of the skin, hair, dress, and cat fur.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to accurate placement and subtle shading.
step 05
Develop the texture of the cat's fur using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Render the folds and highlights in the dress to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Add details such as the jewelry and subtle highlights in the hair.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the pinkish dress with white, red, and a hint of blue. Mix the background with umber, black, and a touch of blue.

techniques