plate no. 9613

Portrait de Yvonne Le Corbusier

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanfacehairtorso

suitable for beginners

This painting provides a good opportunity to practice color mixing and smooth blending to achieve subtle tonal variations. Students can also focus on capturing the unique proportions and features of the subject.

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 figure onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a light blue, ensuring even coverage.
step 03
Mix a range of skin tones using white, pink, and blue, and apply to the face and body, blending smoothly.
step 04
Define the shadows and highlights on the face and body using darker and lighter shades of the mixed skin tones.
step 05
Paint the hair with a dark blue-grey, paying attention to its simple shape.
step 06
Add the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figure to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a cohesive look.

color palette

primary · light blue · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Mix skin tones by combining white with small amounts of red and blue. Use more blue in shadow areas. Achieve the hair color by mixing ultramarine blue with raw umber and a touch of white.

techniques