plate no. 6574

The little sisters

oilRomanticismportraitportraitchildrenfiguresdresseshairsiblings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in tonal shading, portraiture, and rendering of fabrics and hair. It's a good exercise in capturing likeness and creating soft, subtle gradations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Establish the overall value range with a light wash of a neutral gray.
step 03
Begin building up darker tones in the hair, clothing folds, and shadows.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to subtle value changes.
step 05
Add details to the dresses, such as lace and ribbons.
step 06
Soften edges and blend tones to create a smooth, realistic effect.
step 07
Add highlights to the hair and skin to create a sense of light.
step 08
Finalize details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · payne's gray · naples yellow

Use ivory black and titanium white to create various shades of gray. Add small amounts of raw umber for warmth. Naples yellow can be used sparingly to tint highlights.

techniques

·tonal shading
·blending
·portraiture
·rendering fabric
·hatching

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Creating harsh lines instead of soft gradations
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subjects
→Making the values too dark or too light overall

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·ivory black oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·round brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·linseed oil
·mineral spirits

optional

·palette knife
·medium gloss
·payne's gray
·naples yellow

A smooth canvas surface is ideal for achieving the soft, blended look of this painting. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the value range.

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