plate no. 5745

Portrait of a Girl

Gerda Wegener, 1904

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitgirlhairdressfacebow

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the girl's head, shoulders, and dress.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions and subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Add details to the hair, paying attention to the highlights and shadows to create volume.
step 06
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful attention to detail.
step 07
Paint the dress, including the pattern and folds, using a combination of light and dark blues.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cerulean blue

secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber to create shadows and depth. Achieve the dress color by mixing cerulean blue with white and a hint of yellow.

techniques