plate no. 1532

Portrait of Marie, the artist's daughter

watercolorRomanticismportraitportraitfigurechildhairclothingtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor layering and portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and subtle value changes in skin tones. It also provides practice in suggesting form with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

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 figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and a touch of red to the face as a base layer.
step 03
Build up the skin tones with successive layers of slightly darker and cooler colors, paying attention to the shadows and highlights.
step 04
Paint the hair using a mix of browns and blacks, allowing some of the paper to show through for texture.
step 05
Block in the dark areas of the clothing with a mix of black, blue, and brown, creating soft edges.
step 06
Add the table with a wash of burnt sienna and red, varying the intensity to create depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, hair, and clothing, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black · ultramarine blue

secondary · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Mix yellow ochre and alizarin crimson for skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create neutral grays for shadows and clothing. Add a touch of black to darken colors and create depth.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·layering
·dry brush
·wet-on-wet blending
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the watercolor.
→Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
→Making the shadows too harsh and unnatural.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson)
·Watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
·Round watercolor brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
·Palette for mixing paints
·Water container
·Paper towels
·Pencil
·Eraser