plate no. 6054

Portrait of a woman

pastelRealismportraitportraitwomanheadscarffigurejewelryclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing subtle skin tones and using expressive mark-making to suggest form and texture. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, headscarf, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darkest and lightest areas with broad strokes.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Develop the form of the headscarf, using white and gray pastels to create a sense of volume and light.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, being careful to maintain the overall impression of light and shadow.
step 06
Introduce the secondary colors in the clothing and background, blending them softly into the surrounding areas.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, adding highlights and shadows as needed.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the jewelry and any other small details that will enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · raw umber · white · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · pink · gray

Mix skin tones by blending burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and white. Use raw umber for shadows and add small amounts of red or blue to adjust the temperature of the colors.

techniques

·pastel blending
·layering
·scumbling
·hatching
·value control

common pitfalls

→Overworking the pastel and losing the freshness of the strokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Getting bogged down in details before establishing the overall form.
→Using colors that are too saturated or intense.

materials

surface · Toned pastel paper

required

·Pastel set (soft and hard)
·Pastel pencils
·Toned pastel paper
·Kneaded eraser
·Blending stumps or tortillions
·Fixative spray
·Workable fixative

optional

·Palette knife
·Easel
·Paper towels

Choose a pastel paper with a slightly rough texture to grip the pastel. A mid-tone paper will allow you to build up both highlights and shadows more easily.

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