plate no. 5815

Dame Mary Latchford Kingsmill Jones

Ethel Léontine Gabain, 1950

oilNeo-Romanticismportraitportraitfigureclothingjewelrydraperyformal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures like fur and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on accurate placement and size.
step 02
Establish the background drapery with broad strokes of blue and gray.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, red robe, fur trim, and black dress.
step 04
Start refining the facial features, paying close attention to the values and subtle color variations.
step 05
Develop the fur texture using short, broken brushstrokes and layering different shades of brown and beige.
step 06
Add details to the robe, including folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 07
Paint the jewelry with careful attention to detail and reflective surfaces.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · raw umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Achieve the red robe color by mixing cadmium red with a touch of black or brown for shadows. Create fur tones by layering raw umber, yellow ochre, and white.

techniques