plate no. 1953

Portrait of Sonia

oilRealismportraitportraitwomandresshatfurfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding subtle value shifts to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, hat, and fur, paying attention to the overall value relationships.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, hat, and fur, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use black and umber for the fur, adding highlights with white and gray. Mix ochre and umber for the hat.

techniques