plate no. 3753

Portrait of Güzin Duran

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfigureprofilehairfacewoman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and capturing form with expressive brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in understanding warm and cool color relationships.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with thin washes.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and neck using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin layering colors to refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in hue and value.
step 05
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful brushwork.
step 06
Paint the hair, using a variety of browns and blues to create depth and texture.
step 07
Add details to the clothing and background.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting colors and values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow, red, and a touch of umber or blue. Use blue and umber to create cool shadows and hair tones. Add yellow to warm highlights.

techniques