plate no. 4398

Princess Maria Volkonsky at the age of twelve

Balthus, 1945

oil, cardboardExpressionismportraitfigureportraitdressstaffgirlhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle tonal variations in skin and fabric. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and pose on the cardboard.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin, dress, and drape.
step 03
Start refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and color.
step 04
Develop the form of the dress and drape, using vertical brushstrokes to suggest the fabric's texture.
step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add the staff, paying attention to its placement and relationship to the figure's hand.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall form and create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use raw umber and black to create the dark background and shadows. Add small amounts of white to the background to lighten the values.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations in color.
→Making the background too flat and lacking depth.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · cardboard or canvas panel

required

·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·Cardboard or canvas panel
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags
·Easel