plate no. 8414

Frances Russell

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguredresshead coveringfemale

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 to create depth using subtle value changes in darker areas.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and head covering, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color, establishing the overall value range.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the dress, focusing on the folds and drapery, and use darker values to create depth.
step 05
Add the white collar, paying attention to the subtle variations in value and texture.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 07
Add details to the head covering, using soft brushstrokes to create a sense of volume.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · emerald green · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the dark greens by mixing black and green, adding umber for muting. The blacks are not pure, but mixed with umber and a touch of green.

techniques