plate no. 3412

Woman in a White Shirt

Lucian Freud, 1957

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfigurefacehairwomanshirt

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, observing subtle color variations in skin tones, and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding form through light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the portrait's basic shapes and proportions.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darkest and lightest areas.
step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones, paying close attention to the subtle color variations in the skin.
step 04
Use short, directional brushstrokes to define the planes of the face.
step 05
Gradually build up the details, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and small amounts of red and blue. Use black sparingly to darken values. Experiment with layering different colors to create depth and complexity.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·directional brushstrokes
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Over-blending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Ignoring the underlying value structure.
→Focusing too much on details before establishing the overall form.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Getting proportions wrong in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags