plate no. 0455

Elizabeth Kirkley

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguredressfabricbackgroundtree

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin underpainting using burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the dress, skin, and background.
step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Develop the folds and highlights in the dress, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Paint the background elements, including the tree and architectural details.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. The dress color is a mix of burnt sienna and red, with white added for highlights. The blue fabric is ultramarine with white and a touch of black.

techniques