plate no. 9622

Young girl with a cat

oil, canvasRealismportraitfigureportraitcatclothingbackgroundstripes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and patterns.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure, cat, and background.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, focusing on the striped pattern and floral details.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and features of the girl's face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Begin to build up the layers of the red dress, creating folds and highlights to give it form.
step 05
Paint the cat, focusing on capturing its fur texture and facial expression.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, hands, and clothing, adding subtle variations in color and tone.
step 07
Add final touches to the background and foreground, ensuring that all elements work together harmoniously.
step 08
Glaze if necessary to unify the painting and add depth.

color palette

primary · red · green · brown · white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · ivory black

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the various shades of green by mixing green with white, yellow, or brown.

techniques