plate no. 8364

Madame Gaye

oilRealismportraitportraitwomandressfigurelacedark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle value gradations to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the pose and overall composition.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of dark green/brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress, using a dark mix of black and brown.
step 04
Begin to model the form of the face, using subtle value changes to create highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the dress, such as the folds and wrinkles, using a slightly lighter value of the base color.
step 06
Paint the lace details on the cuffs, using a fine brush and a light value of white or cream.
step 07
Add the small details such as the buttons and jewelry.
step 08
Refine the edges and details, making sure to blend the colors smoothly.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix black with raw umber to create a deep, rich black. Add small amounts of white to this mix to create lighter values for highlights. Use alizarin crimson and white for the skin tones.

techniques