plate no. 2829

Italiienne

Luke Fildes, 1900

oilAcademicismportraitfigureportraitwomandressjewelryshawl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also offers practice in creating subtle value shifts to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of neutral colors.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, and shawl.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the folds and drapery of the dress, using highlights and shadows to create volume.
step 06
Add details to the jewelry and other accessories.
step 07
Soften edges and blend transitions to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · red · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of red by adding white, black, or burnt sienna. Create skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black for the shawl.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·modeling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Creating harsh edges and unnatural transitions.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (red, ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags