plate no. 3315

Martha Washington

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredresslandscapearchitecturelace

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding subtle color variations and blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the oval frame and the basic proportions of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values of the background landscape and the figure's clothing.
step 03
Establish the skin tones with a base layer of color.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create the form of the face and hands.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the lace and fabric folds.
step 06
Refine the background landscape, adding details to the trees and sky.
step 07
Paint the oval frame, paying attention to the texture and color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create shadows and depth. Mix ultramarine blue with white for the sky.

techniques