plate no. 8438

Tercer Victoria

oilMuralismportraitportraitfigurefacehairredearring

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing with a limited palette, and creating depth using value changes. It also provides practice in capturing mood and expression through subtle adjustments to facial features.

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 face and hair using a light pencil.
step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the background with a thin wash of burnt sienna and red.
step 03
Block in the major shadow areas on the face and neck using darker shades of red and brown.
step 04
Begin adding highlights to the face, focusing on the forehead, nose, and cheekbones, using lighter mixtures of red, brown, and a touch of white.
step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 06
Add the hair, using loose, expressive brushstrokes to capture its texture and movement.
step 07
Paint the earring with a subtle green or blue hue.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and refine the edges to create a sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white in varying proportions. Use raw umber and ivory black to deepen the shadows. A touch of ultramarine blue can cool down the reds and browns.

techniques

·value studies
·limited palette
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·portrait sketching

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Using too much white, which can make the colors appear chalky and unnatural.
→Not paying close enough attention to the proportions of the face.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·burnt sienna oil paint
·cadmium red oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·ivory black oil paint
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium (e.g., Liquin)
·easel

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of burnt sienna) to establish a warm undertone.

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