plate no. 8677

Mary Sears (later Mrs.Francis Shaw)

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfiguredressfacehandsrose

experienced study

This painting offers a chance to practice portraiture, focusing on subtle skin tones and fabric rendering. Students can learn to create depth and form using value and color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
step 02
Block in the background with dark, muted tones, establishing the overall value range.
step 03
Roughly block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, and white details.
step 04
Begin refining the face, focusing on accurate placement of features and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the dress, paying attention to folds and highlights to create form.
step 06
Add details like the rose, lace, and buttons, refining their shapes and colors.
step 07
Refine the hands, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Burnt Umber · Titanium White

secondary · Cadmium Red · Yellow Ochre · Ivory Black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the blue of the dress by mixing Prussian blue with a touch of black and white for highlights.

techniques

·Portraiture
·Blending
·Value studies
·Chiaroscuro
·Fabric rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones, making them look flat.
→Not creating enough contrast in the dress, making it look lifeless.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: Prussian Blue, Burnt Umber, Titanium White, Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife