plate no. 9236

Portrait of a Woman Covered with a Veil Painting

Vladimir Davidia, 2022

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigureveilwomanface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create dynamic skin tones. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms and capturing a likeness with loose, gestural strokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure and veil, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark green, allowing some variation in tone.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face and body using a limited palette of reds, yellows, and browns.
step 04
Begin adding details to the face, paying attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the veil with red circles, varying the size and spacing to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the veil to give it form.
step 07
Refine the edges of the figure and veil, softening some areas and sharpening others.
step 08
Add final touches and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · burnt umber · viridian green

secondary · titanium white · ivory black

Mix reds and yellows to create warm skin tones. Use burnt umber to darken shadows and viridian green for the background. White can be used to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques