plate no. 5775
Portrait of a Young Girl, standing, three quarter length, holding a sea shell and rosary
Émile Auguste Hublin, 1872
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using chiaroscuro.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas: skin, clothing, background.
- step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, rosary, and shell.
- step 06
Work on the background, creating a sense of depth and texture.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create contrast.
- step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones using white, sienna, umber, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine and burnt umber to create dark shadows. Yellow ochre and white can create highlights.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·portraiture
- ·underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value.
- →Getting lost in details too early in the process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned ground to simplify the underpainting process.
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