plate no. 2384

Woman with Red Hair

Arthur Beecher Carles, 1922

oilPost-Impressionismportraitfigureportraitwomanred hairshoulderprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly creating luminous skin tones with unconventional colors, and in capturing form with expressive brushstrokes.

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, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hair.
step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, using blues, purples, and whites to create a luminous effect.
step 04
Apply layers of red and orange to the hair, varying the tones to create volume and texture.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and any other elements in the composition.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to achieve a harmonious effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · alizarin crimson

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white with blues, purples, and small amounts of red. Create depth in the hair by layering different shades of red and orange, and adding touches of brown and black.

techniques

·color layering
·broken color
·expressive brushwork
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin.
→Being too literal with the colors, rather than embracing the expressive use of color.
→Losing the loose, painterly quality of the original.