plate no. 3630
Adelina Morton
Joshua Johnson, 1810
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture basics, including proportions and capturing likeness, as well as rendering simple drapery and still life elements.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and table.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the background, dress, skin tones, and chair.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle value changes for highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Add details to the dress, including the folds and ribbons.
- step 05
Paint the book, rose, and sheet music, focusing on their shapes and colors.
- step 06
Define the features of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add the necklace and any other small details.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to values and colors to create a cohesive painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red
Skin tones are achieved with mixes of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The dress is primarily white with subtle shadows created by adding small amounts of black or umber. The blue ribbons are ultramarine with white highlights.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·blocking in
- ·glazing
- ·soft blending
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure.
- →Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
- →Lack of subtle value changes in the dress.
- →Getting lost in details too early.
- →Inaccurate rendering of facial features.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a smooth canvas for easier blending. Consider using a medium to thin the paint for glazing.
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