plate no. 2146

Sofia

Lana Kanyo, 2019

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfigureflowershairdressgirl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering soft transitions. It also provides practice in painting floral details and creating a sense of depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and flowers onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, even tone.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the hair, paying attention to the direction of the strands and variations in color.
step 06
Block in the basic shapes and colors of the flowers.
step 07
Add details to the flowers, such as individual petals and variations in color and value.
step 08
Refine the details of the face, hair, and flowers, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue · alizarin crimson

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, umber, red, and yellow ochre in varying proportions. The blue flowers are created by mixing ultramarine and cerulean blue with white for lighter shades and a touch of umber for darker tones.

techniques

·blending
·layering
·glazing
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
→Over-blending, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Neglecting subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, yellow ochre)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags