plate no. 6960

Portret Starice (Portrait of An Old Woman)

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureold womanheadclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and expressive brushwork. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and character of a subject.

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 and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 04
Use short, directional brushstrokes to define the form and texture.
step 05
Mix subtle variations of color to capture the nuances of skin tone.
step 06
Pay close attention to the eyes and mouth to convey expression.
step 07
Add details to the hair and clothing, using thicker paint and bolder strokes.
step 08
Refine the edges and adjust the values to create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and flesh tones by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use small amounts of ultramarine blue to cool down the colors.

techniques