plate no. 9755

Portrait of Actress Aura Fotino

Ion Tuculescu, 1927

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomandresshairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and drape.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted blue-gray.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Work on the dress, paying attention to the folds and the way the fabric drapes.
step 07
Add the details of the flower, using a combination of warm and cool reds.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding final touches.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create a muted gray for the background. Add small amounts of cadmium red for the lips and flower.

techniques

·portrait painting
·blending
·scumbling
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife