plate no. 7557

Lady in a Turkish Costume (Felicita Sartori)

pastelRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingmaskrococowoman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering fabric textures with soft pastel techniques. It also provides practice in capturing subtle lighting and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with soft, blended pastel strokes.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Block in the main colors of the clothing, paying attention to the patterns and folds.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the lace and embellishments.
step 07
Render the mask with smooth, even strokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · rose madder · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · raw umber · cerulean blue · peach

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, rose madder, and a touch of ultramarine blue. The blue fabric is created by blending ultramarine blue with white and touches of other colors for variation.

techniques

·soft pastel blending
·layering
·color mixing
·portraiture
·fabric rendering

common pitfalls

→Overblending and losing detail
→Incorrect proportions of the figure
→Muddy skin tones
→Failing to capture the subtle lighting

materials

surface · Pastel paper (toned)

required

·Soft pastels (various colors)
·Pastel paper (toned)
·Blending stumps
·Kneaded eraser
·Fixative spray
·Drawing board
·Reference image

optional

·Palette knife
·Easel
·Workable fixative

Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to allow the pastels to adhere well. Toned paper can help establish the mid-tones and create a more harmonious color palette.

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