plate no. 1021

The Red Necklace

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitgirlnecklacehairclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form with a limited color palette.

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 face, hair, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the hair, using loose brushstrokes to suggest individual strands and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and necklace, capturing the texture and form.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of light.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw sienna, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for shadows. Mix red and white for the necklace.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations in color.
→Making the hair look flat and lifeless.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red light, ivory black, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·#2 round brush
·#4 flat brush
·soft cloth