plate no. 1248

The Red Cap

Frederick Sandys, 1900

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurehairheadwearfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering delicate skin tones and complex hair textures. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused light and subtle shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, cap, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and cap with light pencil shading.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the skin, starting with a base of light peach and adding subtle variations of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 04
Render the hair by building up layers of light gold and brown, defining individual curls with darker tones.
step 05
Paint the red cap, blending different shades of red and pink to create depth and form.
step 06
Add details to the eyes, lips, and other facial features, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 07
Refine the shading and highlights throughout the painting to create a sense of volume and realism.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the red cap by blending cadmium red with alizarin crimson and white for highlights. Mix browns and yellows for the hair.

techniques