plate no. 9625
Portrait of Giulia Leonardi
Ferdinand Hodler, 1910
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, neck, and hair.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of ochre/yellow.
- step 03
Establish the main shadow shapes on the face and neck using a mix of green, red, and brown.
- step 04
Begin layering in the lighter skin tones, using pinks, yellows, and whites.
- step 05
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
- step 06
Paint the hair with thick, expressive brushstrokes of black and dark brown.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red
secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · ultramarine blue
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow, and small amounts of green and blue. The background is primarily yellow ochre with slight variations. Hair is a mix of black and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Using too much black in the hair, making it appear dull.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the face.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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