plate no. 7138
Mary Anne Heide Norris
Thomas Sully, 1830
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and fur textures with subtle brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, dress, fur, and background.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
- step 05
Render the dress, focusing on the folds and shadows to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Paint the fur collar, using a dry brush technique to create a soft, fluffy texture.
- step 07
Refine the background, blending colors to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
secondary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson
Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and cadmium red light. Use raw umber and ultramarine blue to create darker tones for shadows. Mix ivory black and ultramarine blue for the dress.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·value studies
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring subtle variations in skin tone.
- →Overworking the fur texture.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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