plate no. 8831

Portrait of the artist's daughter

Zinaida Serebriakova, 1934

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothinghairchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions of the figure and chair, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin blocking in the local colors of the skin, hair, and clothing, focusing on accurate color mixing.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the folds and details of the clothing, using subtle value changes to create form.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Work on the background, creating a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · red · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing yellow ochre, red, and white, with small amounts of burnt umber and blue for shadows. The red of the shirt can be modified with small amounts of umber for darker areas and white for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unrealistic.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (red, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags