plate no. 8832

Familiy Portrait. Augusta Antoinette Wergeland Vedøe. Sister of Famous Norwegian Poet Henrik Wergeland

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresslaceribbonjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering delicate details like lace and fabric. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and main features.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark background and the general tones of the figure.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, focusing on subtle variations in color and value to create form.
step 04
Paint the dress, paying attention to the folds and shadows to give it volume.
step 05
Carefully render the lace collar and headpiece, using thin layers of paint to create the delicate details.
step 06
Add the ribbon and jewelry, using brighter colors and highlights to make them stand out.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · burnt umber

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and cadmium red light, with small amounts of blue or umber to adjust the temperature. The dark background is primarily black with hints of umber and blue. The ribbon is a mix of red and white with glazing.

techniques