plate no. 0454

Lady with a Fan

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurewomanfanhairdress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating soft, blended skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering fabrics and intricate details like the fan.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the angle of the head and the placement of features.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown and red tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on the subtle transitions of light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add the details of the dress, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 07
Carefully render the fan, using a fine brush to capture the intricate details.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and umber in varying proportions. Use yellow ochre to warm the skin tones and viridian green to create shadows in the dress.

techniques