plate no. 6629
Portrait of woman
some experience helpful
This painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle value changes, and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form with a limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the placement of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the background with a mix of umber and white, creating a soft, blurred effect.
- step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the face, especially around the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Paint the dark clothing, using layers of black and umber to create depth and texture.
- step 07
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to suggest individual strands.
- step 08
Refine the edges and details, ensuring a smooth transition between values and colors.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix burnt umber and ivory black for dark areas. Use white to lighten values. Add a touch of red and yellow ochre to white for skin tones.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Incorrect proportions of facial features.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations in the skin.
- →Using too much black, making the painting appear muddy.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inch)
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·retouch varnish
Use a high-quality canvas primed with gesso. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint.
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