plate no. 1922

Hilda Virtue Tebbs

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresshairnecklacebackground

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 subtle details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and pose.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress.
step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the details of the dress, including the lace and ribbons.
step 07
Add the necklace and any other jewelry.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · ivory black · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix various combinations of raw umber, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white to achieve the skin tones. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth and ivory black or ultramarine blue for shadows.

techniques