plate no. 2793

Sick girl

oil, canvasDivisionismportraitportraitfigurewomanfaceclothinghair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color temperature control, and capturing likeness with minimal detail. It also provides practice in creating soft edges and atmospheric perspective.

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 face and figure.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with thin washes of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the warm and cool tones in the skin.
step 04
Use loose, visible brushstrokes to define the features and clothing.
step 05
Soften edges and blend colors where needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth and ultramarine blue for coolness. Use white to create highlights and thin washes.

techniques