plate no. 2695

Mavourneen (Portrait of Kathleen Newton)

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitwomanhatfurdresswindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering textures like fur and fabric. It also provides practice in creating depth through 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 outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, focusing on the window and wall.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, starting with the darkest areas of the dress and fur.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using thin layers of color to build up the form of the face.
step 05
Add details to the hat, paying attention to the texture and form.
step 06
Work on the fur collar, using small brushstrokes to create the illusion of texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the dress, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the face and hair.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber mixed with white for the dark areas of the dress and fur. Add small amounts of blue to darken shadows.

techniques