plate no. 7654
Portrait of a girl (Maria Maxmiliana)
Hans von Aachen, 1612
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness, rendering skin tones, and creating soft, diffused lighting effects. The subtle color variations and blending techniques will also improve their understanding of color theory and application.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the girl's head and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral color.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a limited palette of warm and cool colors.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create smooth transitions and subtle variations.
- step 05
Paint the hair, focusing on capturing the highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
- step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for shadows. Add small amounts of blue to cool down the skin tones.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Using too much black, making the shadows appear muddy.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·soft cloths
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint.
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