plate no. 0032
Shivering Girl with a Blue Ring
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle expressions and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive and evocative mood. Students will also practice blending techniques to create soft transitions and edges.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, focusing on proportions and placement within the composition.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even layer of paint or pastel.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of value: the dark hair and clothing, the mid-tone skin, and the lighter areas of the face and hands.
- step 04
Begin blending the colors in the face and hands, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and hue.
- step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise strokes.
- step 06
Work on the hair, creating texture and volume with short, broken strokes.
- step 07
Refine the clothing and background, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
- step 08
Add the final details, such as the blue ring and any other small accents.
color palette
primary · red · brown · black · white
secondary · blue · pink
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and brown. Use varying amounts of each to create highlights and shadows. Mix red and brown to create the background color, adjusting the ratio to create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·hatching
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the blending, resulting in a muddy or flat appearance.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of the facial expression.
- →Ignoring the importance of value in creating form and depth.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · Pastel paper or primed canvas
required
- ·Canvas or pastel paper
- ·Red pastel or paint
- ·Brown pastel or paint
- ·Black pastel or paint
- ·White pastel or paint
- ·Blending stumps or brushes
- ·Soft pastels or oil paints
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Easel
Using toned paper or canvas can help to establish the mid-tone values and create a more cohesive painting.
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