plate no. 6712
The Little Girl with Red Headscarf
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice capturing likeness with loose brushstrokes and creating depth using a limited color palette and strong value contrast. It also provides practice in painting fabric and skin tones.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, scarf, and facial features using light pencil lines.
- step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the red of the scarf, the skin tones of the face, and the dark clothing.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone and the placement of highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Add details to the scarf, such as the white dots and the folds of the fabric.
- step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the figure and the background to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · red · ivory black · raw umber
secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Achieve the red scarf color by mixing red with a touch of umber for darker shades and white for highlights.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·limited palette
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the figure and the background.
- →Using too many colors, which can make the painting look muddy.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16)
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·red oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a canvas with a smooth texture to allow for easier blending. Consider using a medium to thin the oil paints and improve their flow.
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