plate no. 2006

Marie Leszczyńska

pastel, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinglaceheaddresshand

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering complex textures like lace and fabric. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and blending to achieve realistic skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, even layer of color.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, focusing on the light and shadow areas of the face.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the form of the face, paying attention to subtle variations in hue and value.
step 05
Start rendering the clothing, focusing on the larger shapes and folds.
step 06
Add details to the lace and other embellishments, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black to create the dark tones of the headdress and background. Mix white with a tiny amount of blue and umber to create the lace.

techniques