plate no. 8730
Portrait of a Roman girl
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 painting drapery and subtle variations in light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the skin tones, clothing, and hair.
- step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of warm and cool colors.
- step 04
Add details to the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery and how light and shadow play across the fabric.
- step 06
Add the jewelry and other accessories, focusing on capturing their texture and detail.
- step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting colors, values, and details as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for cooler shadows. Add cadmium red light for lip and cheek color.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Overworking the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ivory black, ultramarine blue)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium such as Liquin can help speed up drying time.
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