plate no. 8313

Eliza Eastlake

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresshairprofileclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering fabric textures. It also offers practice in creating a sense of depth through careful value control.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the figure, paying attention to proportions and the profile.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of green and brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face and neck with a mid-tone flesh color.
step 04
Begin layering lighter and darker tones to define the facial features, focusing on subtle gradations.
step 05
Paint the hair, using dark browns and blacks, and add highlights to suggest form.
step 06
Block in the dress with the base color, then add shadows and highlights to create the folds and drapery.
step 07
Add the details of the dress, such as the black trim and blue ribbons.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, a touch of red, and burnt umber. Achieve the dress color by mixing yellow ochre and burnt umber with white for highlights and more burnt umber for shadows. Use ultramarine blue for the ribbons and to darken the blacks.

techniques