plate no. 5271

Portrait of a Young Girl (Antoinette Kraushaar)

George Luks, 1917

oil, canvasNew Realismportraitportraitfiguredressdraperygirlseated

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric folds and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the dress and drapery with simplified color masses.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 05
Develop the folds and highlights in the dress and drapery, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness.
step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figure, softening or sharpening them as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. The blue drapery is a mix of ultramarine blue and white, with variations achieved by adding small amounts of umber or black.

techniques