plate no. 3991

Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis(Washington’s granddaughter)

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresshairchairbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the figure, dress, chair, and background with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the hair, capturing the curls and highlights.
step 06
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the flowers in the hair and the embellishments on the dress.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create the background with yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a little white. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for shadows.

techniques