plate no. 5878
Young Girl with Guitar
Marie Laurencin, 1940
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and practice simplified figure drawing with attention to proportions. It also encourages exploring a limited color palette to create a harmonious composition.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, guitar, and background.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, hair, and background.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending subtle variations of pink, blue, and white.
- step 04
Add details to the dress, focusing on the folds and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the guitar with simplified shapes and colors, paying attention to the highlights.
- step 06
Develop the background with soft, blended brushstrokes to create depth.
- step 07
Add details like the flower in the hair and the facial features.
- step 08
Review and adjust colors and values to achieve a cohesive overall look.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · alizarin crimson · raw umber · sap green
Achieve the skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of blue, red, and yellow ochre. The background is a mix of white, blue, and green. Use raw umber to darken the blues and create shadows.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·simplified shapes
- ·layering
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplified style.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brush (size 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·odorless mineral spirits or water
optional
- ·easel
- ·apron
- ·rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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