plate no. 9659

Cathrine Jensen, née Lorenzen, the Artist's Wife, Wearing a Turban

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitwomanturbanjewelrydressshawl

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 subtle color mixing and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the dress, turban, and shawl, using simplified color blocks.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the turban, including the patterns and folds.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension in the dress and shawl.
step 07
Paint the jewelry, focusing on capturing the reflective qualities of the pearls and gold.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · olive green · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of green for the dress by combining olive green, ivory black, and titanium white. Achieve the turban's colors by mixing alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use raw umber and ivory black for the background and shadows.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·color blocking
·glazing
·blending
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Making the colors too saturated.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, olive green, titanium white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags