plate no. 9241

Verloren; Girl with a Medallion

Thérèse Schwartze, 1903

oilImpressionismportraitfigureportraitwomanmedallionhairdress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering soft, diffused lighting. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through tonal variations and loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figure.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns on the skin and clothing.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations, blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Define the details of the face, hair, and hands, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
step 06
Add the details of the dress and background, using looser brushwork to create texture and atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.
step 08
Add final details like the medallion and any small accents.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · raw sienna

secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for shadows, and add blue to cool down the tones. The background is primarily mixed from burnt umber, black, and touches of other colors for variation.

techniques

·Underpainting
·Glazing
·Scumbling
·Chiaroscuro
·Blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Creating harsh lines and edges instead of soft transitions.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not blending them effectively.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, raw sienna, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, various sizes)
·Linseed oil or other painting medium
·Odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·Rags or paper towels