plate no. 2300
Lady with Morning Glory
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, color mixing for skin tones, and creating soft, impressionistic backgrounds. It also provides practice in capturing subtle variations in light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the face, shoulders, and flower arrangement.
- step 02
Establish the background colors with broad, loose strokes.
- step 03
Block in the main skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and values.
- step 05
Add details to the flowers and foliage, using a variety of brushstrokes.
- step 06
Develop the drapery folds and shadows on the figure's clothing.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and add final highlights.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and soften edges.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · violet · sap green
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber, and alizarin crimson, with small amounts of yellow ochre and ultramarine blue for shadows. The violet flowers are created by mixing alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue with white for lighter tones.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the soft, luminous quality.
- →Creating harsh lines and edges instead of blended transitions.
- →Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the background.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.
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