plate no. 6687

Mary Carrie

oilRomanticismportraitfiguredresstreesportraitfoliagehat

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and subtle color variations.

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 and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the background foliage with loose, varied brushstrokes, focusing on warm browns and greens.
step 04
Begin layering the dress, using white mixed with small amounts of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and ultramarine to create subtle variations in tone.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Add details to the dress, such as ruffles and lace, using a fine brush.
step 07
Glaze over the background to unify the colors and create atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the figure and dress.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

Achieve the off-white of the dress by mixing titanium white with small amounts of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and ultramarine. Use burnt umber and ultramarine to create dark browns and grays for the shadows in the background.

techniques