plate no. 6330

Portrait of the 20-year-old Ina Leaves

Jan Sluyters, 1932

oilExpressionismportraitportraitwomandogfur coatcouchdress

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. Students can also learn about color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and the illusion of depth.

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, dog, and couch.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of diluted paint.
step 03
Establish the main value areas for the skin, dress, and fur coat.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the texture of the fur coat using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the dress and couch, focusing on folds and highlights.
step 07
Refine the dog's fur and facial features, capturing its unique expression.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · viridian

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the fur coat's color by mixing white with small amounts of umber, blue, and yellow. The black dress requires mixing black with a touch of blue or umber for depth.

techniques