plate no. 7837

Vivien St George

William Orpen, 1918

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguredressgirlhairheadscarf

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the pose and composition.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the dress and skin.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the figure, using darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the dress, such as the folds and wrinkles, and the lace on the headscarf.
step 06
Work on the hair, creating volume and texture with loose brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ivory black · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Mix various yellows with white and a touch of blue or brown to achieve the dress's color variations. Use burnt sienna and white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of red or yellow for warmth. The background is mostly black with subtle variations of brown and blue.

techniques