plate no. 3600

Young Arab Woman from Tanger

oilAcademicismportraitfigureportraitwomanclothingfabricbackground

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone variations, and rendering of drapery and fabric textures. It also offers practice in creating a complex background pattern.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Work on the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 05
Paint the background pattern, simplifying the details as needed.
step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create the background gold by mixing yellow ochre, raw sienna, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue mixed with white for the head wrap.

techniques