plate no. 3605

The daughter of Sormani

Jan Sluyters, 1917

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguregirldressbowhands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and expression, as well as understanding how to use a limited color palette to create depth and form. Students will also learn how to create texture and visual interest through expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure's dress and skin tones.
step 03
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes and mouth to capture the expression.
step 04
Add details to the dress, including the folds and shadows, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Work on the hair and bow, using short, broken strokes to suggest individual strands.
step 06
Develop the background with loose, expressive strokes, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the hands, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create visual interest.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark tones of the dress and background. Use titanium white to lighten these colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of raw sienna and alizarin crimson to warm up the skin tones.

techniques