plate no. 8518

Family portrait

watercolor, paperRomanticismportraitportraitfamilyfiguresclothingflowersinterior

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as layering watercolor washes to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light pencil sketch of the composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of figures.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted raw sienna or yellow ochre to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin painting the background with light washes of diluted browns and grays, leaving some areas lighter to suggest highlights.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones with thin washes of diluted reds, yellows, and browns, layering colors to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Paint the clothing with appropriate colors, using darker values to create shadows and lighter values to suggest highlights.
step 06
Add details to the faces, such as eyes, noses, and mouths, using fine brushes and precise strokes.
step 07
Paint the flowers and other details, such as the orange and the doll, using appropriate colors and values.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the painting, using white or light-colored paint sparingly.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · ivory black · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending red, yellow, and brown, adjusting ratios for different complexions. Achieve darker tones by adding black or burnt umber to the primary colors.

techniques