plate no. 8316

Smile

oilExpressionismportraitportraitdollfigurefaceheadscarf

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for practicing color mixing with a limited palette and capturing a likeness with simplified forms. Students will also develop skills in creating soft edges and subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, scarf, and facial features.
step 02
Mix a light, creamy base color for the background and apply it evenly.
step 03
Mix a slightly darker tone for the skin and block in the general areas of the face.
step 04
Add subtle washes of pink and yellow to create the skin's undertones.
step 05
Paint the scarf with a light blue-white mix, defining its folds with slightly darker values.
step 06
Add the eyes with a dark blue or black, leaving small highlights.
step 07
Define the mouth and nose with soft pinks and reds.
step 08
Refine the details and edges, softening where necessary.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and red for the skin tones. Add a touch of blue to white for the scarf. Use burnt umber to darken the blues and reds.

techniques