plate no. 0735

Portrait of a Girl

Romualdo Locatelli, 1939

oil, canvasOrientalismportraitportraitfiguregirlclothinghead coveringhand

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in capturing skin tones with subtle variations and creating form with loose, expressive brushstrokes. Students can learn to simplify details while maintaining a likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose strokes of browns and greens.
step 03
Block in the main skin tones using a mix of browns, reds, and yellows, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Begin defining the features of the face, using smaller brushes and subtle color variations.
step 05
Paint the clothing with loose, visible brushstrokes, capturing the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the head covering, using white and gray tones to create form.
step 07
Refine the details of the hand and facial features, paying attention to the expression.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall form and create depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and cadmium red, adjusting the ratios for highlights and shadows. Use ultramarine blue to cool down browns and create shadows.

techniques