plate no. 9823

Countess Praskovia Vorontsova

oilRococoportraitportraitwomandresshairfigureclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and hair with soft blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and dress.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the hair, using soft blending to create volume and texture.
step 06
Add details to the dress, including the ruffles and folds.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve a harmonious result.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black to create shadows and darker tones. Mix white with a touch of black to create the hair color.

techniques