plate no. 0784

Jane Fox, Lady Leigh as a Shepherdess

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigurelandscapesheepdressfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practice creating the illusion of folds and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure, sheep, and background.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Develop the background landscape, paying attention to atmospheric perspective and color variations.
step 04
Begin refining the figure, starting with the face and hands, and gradually adding details.
step 05
Work on the drapery, carefully observing the highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the sheep, capturing its texture and form.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and harmonious image.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Achieve skin tones by blending these with small amounts of cadmium red and ultramarine blue. Create the blue drapery by mixing ultramarine blue with ivory black and titanium white for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·drapery rendering
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not paying enough attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones and drapery.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, ivory black, sap green)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags