plate no. 5910

Woman w/ Red Wall

Kent Bellows, 1998

oilContemporary Realismnude painting (nu)figureportraitwomannuderedwall

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering skin tones, as well as creating textured backgrounds with subtle color variations.

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 figure and background, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the basic skin tones with a mid-tone base layer.
step 03
Begin layering in shadows and highlights on the face and body, blending carefully.
step 04
Develop the background by building up layers of textured color, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add subtle color variations to the skin and background to create depth and realism.
step 07
Pay attention to the edges of the figure and background, softening them where necessary.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red light. The background is created with varying mixtures of burnt sienna, raw umber, and ivory black, lightened with white.

techniques