plate no. 9728
Woman Combing Her Hair
Pieter Codde, 1635
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering fabric folds, capturing subtle light and shadow, and creating a sense of depth in an interior scene. It also provides practice in portraiture and depicting realistic hair.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes: figure, table, and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes.
- step 03
Start with the background, gradually building up the color and texture.
- step 04
Move on to the figure, focusing on the face and hands first.
- step 05
Carefully render the folds and highlights in the fabric of the dress and tablecloth.
- step 06
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a focal point.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of secondary colors. Use white to lighten the values and create highlights.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in tone and texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial stages of painting.
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