plate no. 9530

Székely girl

Istvan Nagy, 1913

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguregirlclothingtraditional dressfolklore

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a sense of character.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and arms.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark greens and browns.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a base skin tone, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful observation of their shapes and values.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures of the fabric, and the details of the traditional dress.
step 06
Refine the details of the hair, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final touches and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · sap green

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white. Use small amounts of red and green to adjust the warmth and coolness of the skin. Create darks by mixing burnt umber and ivory black.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·portraiture
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value, leading to a lack of depth and dimension.
→Focusing too much on details too early, before establishing the overall composition and values.
→Getting the proportions wrong, which can make the portrait look distorted.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·mahl stick

Use a medium-sized canvas for this project. Oil paints are recommended for their blending capabilities. A variety of brush sizes will be helpful for different details.

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