plate no. 9113

Portrait of an old woman

paperExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingfacehead

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle variations in skin tone and creating a sense of depth with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in simplifying forms and focusing on essential details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of off-white, leaving some areas slightly darker or lighter.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Mix subtle variations of skin tone and apply them with soft, blended brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the dark clothing with a solid, opaque layer of black, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the edges and details of the portrait, softening some areas and sharpening others to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the portrait to life.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones by combining white, raw umber, and yellow ochre. Use burnt sienna for warmer areas and ivory black to cool down the tones. Achieve the black clothing by using ivory black straight from the tube.

techniques