plate no. 1712

Daydreaming

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfiguredresschairtablescarf

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 textures and patterns.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, figure, and clothing.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle value changes.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress, including the pattern and folds.
step 05
Paint the scarf, capturing its texture and color variations.
step 06
Add details to the chair and table, focusing on accurate perspective.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and ultramarine blue to create subtle color variations in the skin tones and clothing.

techniques

·portrait painting
·fabric rendering
·glazing
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure.
→Overly harsh or flat skin tones.
→Inaccurate rendering of the fabric pattern.
→Ignoring subtle value changes.
→Neglecting the background details.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags