plate no. 7196

Young Woman Drawing (detail)

oilNeoclassicismself-portraitfigureportraithairclothingfaceeyes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also provides practice in depicting fine details like hair and clothing folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the face and figure, paying attention to the angle of the head and the placement of features.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the skin, hair, and clothing.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones by layering subtle variations of color, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create the texture of the curls.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and the way the light falls on the fabric.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the hair pin and the small gold detail on the dress.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber and alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create the cool tones in the background.

techniques