plate no. 0756
Portrait of a Girl
Alexander Orlowski, 1815
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating soft, diffused lighting. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and pose.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, background.
- step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to subtle shifts in value.
- step 04
Develop the dress, focusing on the folds and highlights.
- step 05
Add details to the background, keeping it soft and indistinct.
- step 06
Paint the necklace and the dress's string.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows for depth.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow
Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, white, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use ultramarine blue and white for the cooler tones in the dress. Mix raw umber and yellow ochre for the background.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·soft edges
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Making the background too distracting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface is recommended for easier blending.
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