plate no. 6380
Laura at Seven
Carolus-Duran, 1887
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering soft, diffused lighting. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes and mixing subtle color variations for skin tones.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, 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: skin tones, hair, hat, clothing, and background.
- step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering subtle color variations and soft blending.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, using varied brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
- step 06
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 07
Develop the details of the clothing and hat, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna
Mix skin tones by blending white, red, umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Achieve the darks of the hat by mixing black and umber. Use white and a touch of umber for the dress.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better paint adhesion. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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