plate no. 5700

Young Woman In Blue

oil, panelRealismportraitportraitwomanheadscarfshawljewelryfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practicing expressive brushwork to create texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and headscarf.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, headscarf, and shawl.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the headscarf and shawl using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the subject's expression.
step 07
Paint the earring, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending burnt umber, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Vary the proportions to achieve different shades. Use ultramarine blue and white for the headscarf, adding small amounts of burnt umber to create shadows.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·color mixing for skin tones
·broken color
·scumbling
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
→Using too much detail too early in the painting process.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the headscarf and shawl.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags