plate no. 8521

Antoinette-Elisabeth-Marie Daguesseau

oilRococoportraitportraitwomanhatdressflowerslace

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in rendering realistic skin tones and fabric textures. Students will also learn about color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin, hat, dress, background, and table.
step 03
Develop the skin tones by layering and blending colors, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the hat, including the feathers and ribbon, using varying shades of blue.
step 05
Work on the dress, creating the folds and highlights in the fabric.
step 06
Paint the lace details on the collar and cuffs, using fine brushstrokes.
step 07
Add the flowers on the table, paying attention to their colors and shapes.
step 08
Refine the background and add any final details.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, crimson, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the blue of the hat by mixing ultramarine with white and a touch of black for shadows. Create the yellow of the dress with yellow ochre and white, adding sienna for warmth.

techniques