plate no. 8919

Lady Frances Gresley

Philip de Laszlo, 1924

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguredresspearlsshawlhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and subtle color variations.

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, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and drapery.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark, muted colors, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing, focusing on the overall value relationships.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, using subtle color variations to create form and volume.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing and jewelry, paying attention to the way light interacts with the fabric and pearls.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension throughout the painting.
step 07
Refine the brushwork, using loose, expressive strokes to capture the texture and movement of the fabric and hair.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and blue. Create the dark background by blending black, umber, and a hint of blue. Use glazes of yellow and brown to create the golden sheen of the shawl.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong, leading to an inaccurate likeness.
→Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and lifeless painting.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere in the background.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in an unnatural and garish appearance.