plate no. 1233

Elizabeth Wharton (Mrs. William J. McCluney)

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresslandscapeurnfoliage

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 atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the figure, urn, and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the basic skin tones and hair color with thin washes.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the dress and background, paying attention to value relationships.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle shading.
step 05
Add details to the dress, including folds and highlights.
step 06
Develop the background landscape, using soft blending to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Paint the urn and foliage, adding details and highlights.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create shadows with burnt umber and blue. Mix greens for the foliage using yellow ochre and viridian green.

techniques