plate no. 4854

Alida Livingston Armstrong and Daughter

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguresclothingmotherchild

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone variations, and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through careful shading and highlighting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Establish the main shapes and values of the figures' clothing and skin.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in hue and value.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the lace, ribbons, and folds.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, and crimson, adjusting proportions for highlights and shadows. Darken colors with black, and use yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones. Mix viridian with white for the green ribbon.

techniques