plate no. 1061

Portrait of a Little Girl

Tsuguharu Foujita, 1918

oilExpressionismportraitportraitchildfigureclothingchairhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion and subtle color mixing for skin tones. It will also provide practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and rendering simple forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, torso, and limbs.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a light base color and gradually add shadows and highlights.
step 04
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value to create form.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the hair, using light and dark tones to create texture and volume.
step 07
Paint the chair with dark tones, blending to create soft edges.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black to create shadows and define forms. Add small amounts of red to the cheeks and hands for warmth.

techniques