plate no. 5485
Frances Cleveland
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how light interacts with fabric.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, focusing on the light and shadow.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress with light, warm tones.
- step 04
Begin to refine the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Develop the form of the arms and hands, using a limited palette.
- step 06
Add details to the dress, capturing the folds and textures.
- step 07
Refine the background and adjust the overall composition.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create subtle grays for shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the face and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the subtle shifts in color and value in the dress.
- →Ignoring the importance of the background in creating depth and atmosphere.
- →Getting proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·soft cloth
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
