plate no. 7393

Sadness

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfigurehairfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle expressions and rendering realistic hair. It also provides practice in creating soft, blended transitions between values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and hair.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using thin washes.
step 04
Begin building up the hair, focusing on the overall flow and direction of the strands.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as folds and wrinkles.
step 07
Soften edges and blend transitions to create a smooth, realistic effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

The skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber, and small amounts of yellow ochre and blue. The background is a mix of black and blue. The hair is primarily black with umber and blue mixed in for depth.

techniques