plate no. 0061

Two Little Girls

Jessie Willcox Smith, 1924

oilRomanticismillustrationchildrenfiguresclothingbooksschoolportraits

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

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 proportions of the figures and their clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash.
step 03
Block in the main color areas of the figures: red dress, checkered suit, hats.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the black stripes on the dress and the checkered pattern on the suit.
step 06
Paint the books and other accessories, focusing on their shapes and textures.
step 07
Refine the facial features and add highlights to create a sense of form.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · red · black · brown · white

secondary · green · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red or burnt umber. The checkered pattern requires careful mixing of browns and yellows with white for highlights.

techniques