plate no. 8734
The Sad Girl (Kathleen Kearney)
Sarah Purser, 1923
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing subtle variations in skin tones. It also provides practice in simplifying a complex subject into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hair, and background.
- step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of red-brown and gold.
- step 03
Establish the main shadow shapes on the face using a mix of browns and blues.
- step 04
Add lighter skin tones, blending edges softly.
- step 05
Define the hair with loose, directional brushstrokes, using a mix of browns, reds, and yellows.
- step 06
Add the blue accents around the figure.
- step 07
Refine the features of the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by blending white, burnt sienna, and small amounts of red and blue. Achieve darker shadows by adding more blue and burnt sienna to the skin tone mix. The background is a mix of burnt sienna and yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·loose brushwork
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·value study
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle value shifts in the face.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to create a warmer base.
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