plate no. 5405
Lady in Red Wearing a Tiara
Jérôme-Martin Langlois, 1817
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in portraiture, focusing on skin tones and fabric rendering. Students will develop skills in blending and creating subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and dress.
- step 02
Establish the background with a mid-tone gray.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, and hair.
- step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the folds and details of the red dress, using darker and lighter shades.
- step 06
Add details to the hair, tiara, and jewelry.
- step 07
Refine the background and edges to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · cadmium red · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · alizarin crimson
Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the red dress color by mixing cadmium red with alizarin crimson and white for highlights.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·fabric rendering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations in the skin.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider using a medium to improve blending.
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