plate no. 3462

Young girl with flowers

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitfigureportraitgirlflowersfoliagegarden

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as creating depth and atmosphere through soft blending and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes, using a dark green and brown mix.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the dress, bodice, and skin tones.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, adding folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Paint the flowers with small, delicate brushstrokes, using a variety of colors.
step 07
Refine the background foliage, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium red. Achieve the greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and burnt umber. Create the dress color by mixing burnt umber with a touch of ultramarine blue and white.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Neglecting the importance of soft blending.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels