plate no. 7373

Portrait of the painter's granddaughter Anne

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurechildhairclothingchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait proportions, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a sense of personality.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and chair.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar neutral color.
step 03
Block in the background color, paying attention to its subtle variations.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the hair, focusing on the overall shape and direction of the strands.
step 06
Add the details of the clothing, using a slightly thicker application of paint.
step 07
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · raw umber

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. The blue of the shirt is created by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of yellow ochre to soften it.

techniques