plate no. 7499

Elizabeth Shewell West and Her Son, Raphael

oilRococoportraitportraitmotherchildfigureclothingheadscarf

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on smooth transitions and subtle variations.
step 04
Define the features of the faces, paying close attention to the eyes and mouth.
step 05
Work on the drapery, capturing the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add details such as the headscarf and the embroidery on the green shawl.
step 07
Refine the background and adjust the overall values to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. The green shawl is a mix of viridian green, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.

techniques