plate no. 0808

The Imprisoned Love

Kexin Di, 2018

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfigureveilwomanheadclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, specifically rendering skin tones and creating the illusion of transparency with the veil. It also provides practice in soft blending and subtle value shifts.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash of a neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using simplified values.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones by layering and blending subtle color variations.
step 05
Carefully render the features of the face, paying attention to the highlights and shadows that define the form.
step 06
Start building up the veil with thin layers of white and gray, focusing on the folds and transparency.
step 07
Add details to the clothing, using brushstrokes to suggest texture and form.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use white and gray mixtures for the veil, adjusting the values to create transparency.

techniques