plate no. 5103

Portrait of a Girl

oilRealismportraitportraitgirlhairfurwillowchild

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice capturing likeness and creating soft, diffused light effects. It will also provide experience in rendering textures with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the girl's head, shoulders, and hair.
step 02
Block in the background with a muted green, paying attention to the variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Begin to define the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the subtle nuances of expression.
step 05
Paint the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest the texture and form.
step 06
Render the fur collar with loose, broken brushstrokes, capturing the softness and fluffiness.
step 07
Add the willow branches, paying attention to their delicate structure and the subtle variations in color.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and convincing portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · viridian · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber to create shadows and define contours. Muted greens are achieved by mixing viridian with white and a touch of raw umber.

techniques