plate no. 7987

Anna Alma Tadema

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfigureflowersdressdoorwayinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the figure, the doorway, and the main elements of the composition.
step 02
Establish the background colors, focusing on the subtle shifts in tone and value.
step 03
Block in the basic shapes and colors of the figure, paying attention to the proportions and pose.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, starting with the eyes, nose, and mouth, and gradually refining the features.
step 05
Render the fabric of the dress, capturing the folds, wrinkles, and patterns with careful brushwork.
step 06
Paint the flowers and vase, focusing on the delicate details and textures.
step 07
Add the necklace and bracelet, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting the colors, values, and details as needed to create a harmonious and balanced image.

color palette

primary · gray-blue · olive green · tan · ivory

secondary · burnt sienna · raw umber · pale yellow

Mix the gray-blue for the dress by combining ultramarine blue, white, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of red and burnt umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·fabric rendering
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of harmony.
→Not paying enough attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (gray-blue, olive green, tan, ivory, burnt sienna, raw umber, pale yellow, white, yellow ochre, red, ultramarine blue)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags