plate no. 4718

The girl in red

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureclothingheadscarfpearlsdress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and subtle variations in red.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure and headscarf, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, headscarf, and dress.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the headscarf and dress, using darker values to create depth.
step 06
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create a sense of light and form.
step 07
Paint the details of the pearls and any patterns on the dress.
step 08
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, making adjustments as needed.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix reds with burnt umber to create shadows in the fabric. Use yellow ochre and white for highlights on the face. Add small amounts of blue to neutralize the red and create cooler tones.

techniques