plate no. 7018

Elizabeth Coke of Derbyshire (1676–1739)

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfiguredresshairframe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of depth through 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, paying attention to the proportions of the figure and the oval frame.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the background, the skin tones, the dress, and the hair.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle layers of color to create smooth transitions and highlights.
step 04
Work on the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the folds and textures of the dress, using a variety of brushstrokes to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to define individual strands and curls.
step 07
Refine the background and the oval frame, adding details and textures as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism and depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · viridian · raw umber

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use black and umber to create shadows and depth. The green of the dress is achieved by mixing viridian with yellow and a touch of black for shading.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension in the dress.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, viridian, raw umber)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife