plate no. 6362

Miss Betty Pollock

John William Waterhouse, 1911

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitfigureportraitdressfoliageflowersgarden

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as creating atmospheric backgrounds with soft blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background using broad, blended strokes of dark greens and browns.
step 03
Block in the basic shapes of the figure and dress with light washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with thin layers of paint, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the dress, including the folds and the blue sash.
step 07
Paint the flowers and foliage in the foreground, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · sap green

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow, sienna, and a touch of crimson. Create the dress color by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber and blue.

techniques