plate no. 7142

Young Lady of 1933

Robert Brackman, 1933

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurefruitchairclothingstill life

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and still life elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes: head, shoulders, chair, and fruit bowl.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, even layer of the base color.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones, focusing on the light and shadow areas of the face.
step 04
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 05
Add the fruit bowl and fruit, focusing on their shapes and colors.
step 06
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · viridian

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. The purple of the dress is a mix of red and blue with umber. The background is a muted red-brown.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·blending
·layering
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes in the skin.
→Making the background too bright or distracting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints: burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil