plate no. 0393

Lady Susan Fox-Strangways

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredresslacecolumndrapery

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering delicate fabrics like lace. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through careful value adjustments.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, establishing the dark and light areas.
step 03
Begin painting the skin tones, focusing on accurate color mixing and subtle value changes to create form.
step 04
Paint the dress, paying close attention to the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Carefully render the lace details, using fine brushes and light, delicate strokes.
step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, ensuring accurate proportions and expressions.
step 07
Refine the background elements, such as the column and drapery, adding details and adjusting values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · Prussian blue · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use Prussian blue and white for the blue accents, and mix white with small amounts of the other colors to create the off-white of the dress.

techniques