plate no. 0453
Portrait of a woman in pink
Hélène Guinepied, 1918
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing with a limited palette and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides an opportunity to explore portraiture and landscape painting simultaneously.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
2
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the woman, mountains, and flowers, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Block in the background sky with a light blue, and the ground with green.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tone of the face and neck with a light peach color.
- step 04
Paint the woman's dress with a light pink, adding subtle shadows and highlights.
- step 05
Add the details of the hair, using gray and white tones.
- step 06
Paint the mountains with varying shades of green, using vertical strokes to create texture.
- step 07
Add the flowers with white and yellow, using thick brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the details and add finishing touches, adjusting colors and values as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light · rose madder
secondary · viridian green · raw umber
Mix light blues for the sky by combining white and ultramarine blue. Create the skin tone by mixing white, rose madder, and a touch of yellow. Achieve the pink for the dress by mixing white and rose madder.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·simplifying shapes
- ·color mixing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy palette.
- →Not paying attention to proportions and creating an inaccurate likeness.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow light oil paint
- ·rose madder oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use good quality oil paints for best results. Pre-primed canvas is recommended.
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