plate no. 7048

Three Girls

Amrita Sher-Gil, 1935

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigureswomenportraitsclothingIndianshawls

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and fabric colors, as well as understanding how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

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 and placement of the three figures, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for each figure's clothing (red, pink, green), using simplified shapes.
step 04
Begin layering in darker values to define shadows and folds in the clothing.
step 05
Mix and apply skin tones, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value on each face.
step 06
Refine the details of the faces, including eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the clothing and faces to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · red · pink · green · ochre

secondary · brown · white · black

Mix skin tones by combining ochre, red, and brown with white for highlights and a touch of black for shadows. Achieve the fabric colors by mixing primary colors with white and brown to mute and soften them.

techniques