plate no. 3455

Miss Jeanne Arnould-Plessy

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurewomanfoliagedresshair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also provides practice in painting delicate details like lace and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with dark greens and browns, establishing the overall value range.
step 03
Lay in the basic skin tones using a limited palette of warm and cool colors.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle shading.
step 05
Paint the dress with loose, flowing strokes, capturing the texture of the fabric.
step 06
Add the foliage crown, varying the greens and yellows to create depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and dress, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre and raw umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow on the face.
→Making the foliage crown too uniform or symmetrical.
→Losing the overall sense of atmosphere and mood.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, viridian green, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife