plate no. 3378

Portrait of a girl

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitchildfiguredresshairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating subtle value shifts and soft edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a limited palette of warm and cool colors.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the face and hair.
step 06
Paint the dress, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 07
Add the red sash, capturing its texture and color variations.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the overall composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. The background is a mix of raw umber and black. The red sash is cadmium red with touches of burnt sienna for depth.

techniques