plate no. 7863

Portrait of the Young Lady with Pink Bow

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurewomanflowerdresshair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practicing loose, expressive brushwork to create texture and 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 head, shoulders, and flower.
step 02
Establish the overall background color with a thin wash of green and yellow.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, hair, and dress with simplified color masses.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Develop the flower, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow on the petals.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the dress to create a sense of volume.
step 08
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the background green by mixing yellow ochre and viridian green. Use alizarin crimson and white for the pink flower.

techniques