plate no. 9822
Lady with Pink Dress
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through layering and brushwork. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and expression of a subject.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the dress, skin tones, and background.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Develop the details of the dress and background, using varied brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figure.
- step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · viridian
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and umber, adjusting the ratios for highlights and shadows. The pink dress is a mix of white and red with a touch of umber. The background uses muted greens, blues, and browns.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to capture the likeness and expression of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, viridian)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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