plate no. 0200

The Cigarette

Fernand Khnopff, 1912

oilSymbolismportraitportraitwomancigarettefaceshadowearring

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in creating subtle tonal variations and rendering soft edges. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and creating a sense of depth with limited color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the face, shoulders, and cigarette, paying attention to proportions and placement within the circular format.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and shadow on the face with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Mix a base skin tone using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Apply this to the lighter areas of the face, blending softly.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones by adding small amounts of brown or grey to the base skin tone.
step 05
Use a small brush to define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add highlights to the face, earring, and cigarette using a lighter shade of the base skin tone or white.
step 07
Refine the edges and details of the painting, paying attention to the soft transitions between light and shadow.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the subtle texture of the skin and the glint of light on the earring.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre and white, adding small amounts of red for warmth and burnt umber for shadows. Use black sparingly to darken shadows.

techniques