plate no. 6505

Portrait of the artist's cousin

pastel, cardboardRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingchairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also offers practice in depicting fabric and textures with simplified brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of value on the face, hair, and clothing, focusing on the overall light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the chair to give it form.
step 07
Blend and soften edges as needed to create a cohesive and realistic effect.
step 08
Add final details such as the flower and jewelry.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix raw umber and white for the skin tones, adjusting the ratio for highlights and shadows. Use burnt sienna and red for the rose. Mix yellow ochre and white for the background.

techniques