plate no. 3602

Portrait of a girl

Pasquale Celommi, 1910

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingnecklacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations for realistic skin tones. It will also improve their ability to create soft, diffused lighting effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and pose on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin, clothing.
step 03
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending subtle variations of color.
step 04
Add details to the face, focusing on accurate placement and shading of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add the necklace and other accessories.
step 07
Refine the background and edges of the figure.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · viridian green · cadmium red light

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. The background is primarily raw umber and black, lightened with white for highlights. The green vest is a mix of viridian green, yellow ochre, and raw umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·value studies
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Using too much black, making the painting look muddy.
→Neglecting the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, ivory black, viridian green, cadmium red light)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags