plate no. 4544

Profile of a girl. Preparatory work for a decorative stain in red and green.

indian ink, watercolor, paperArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitprofilewomanhairberriesfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in contour drawing, color blocking, and creating a cohesive color palette with limited hues. Students can also practice creating smooth, even washes of color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the girl's profile, hair, and berries.
step 02
Outline the sketch with a fine-tipped pen or liner.
step 03
Erase the pencil sketch, leaving only the line art.
step 04
Begin filling in the background with a light red wash.
step 05
Apply a base coat of tan/beige to the face and hair areas.
step 06
Add a darker tan/brown wash to the hair to create depth and shadows.
step 07
Paint the berries with red and blue, outlining them with black.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the face and hair.

color palette

primary · red · tan · beige · black

secondary · blue · green

Mix the tan/beige color by combining yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white. Create the darker hair shadows by adding burnt umber to the tan mixture. The red can be brightened with a touch of orange.

techniques

·contour drawing
·color blocking
·flat washes
·outlining
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the flat, graphic quality.
→Making the outline too thick or uneven.
→Not achieving smooth, even washes of color.
→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper
·Pencil
·Eraser
·Fine-tipped pen or liner
·Watercolor paints (red, tan, beige, black, blue, green)
·Round watercolor brushes (small and medium)
·Water container
·Palette

optional

·Masking fluid
·Palette knife
·Ruler

Using high-quality watercolor paper will help prevent buckling and allow for smoother washes. A fine-tipped pen with waterproof ink is recommended for outlining.

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