plate no. 0915
A Portrait of Amelina Dufaud
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone blending, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a soft, diffused light effect.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the oval composition and the figure's basic proportions.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna, then add the subtle pattern using a slightly darker shade.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and dress with thin layers of color.
- step 04
Start building up the skin tones with layers of thin paint, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Carefully blend the edges of the skin tones to create a smooth, realistic effect.
- step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to their shape and placement.
- step 07
Paint the hair with soft, flowing strokes, capturing the highlights and shadows.
- step 08
Finish by adding the details of the dress and brooch, and refining the overall composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw sienna · burnt umber · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, raw sienna, and a touch of cadmium red light. Use burnt umber and ivory black for the dress and hair, and mix raw sienna and burnt umber for the background.
techniques
- ·portrait drawing
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
- →Making the background pattern too prominent.
materials
surface · stretched oval canvas
required
- ·stretched oval canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 0-4)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·mahogany palette
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber can be helpful.
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