plate no. 5518

Mrs. and Miss Macklin, with Miss Potts

oil, canvasRococoportraitfigureslandscapearchitectureanimalsspinning wheelportrait

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering fabrics and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures and the main elements of the background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying thin washes of color to the canvas.
step 03
Begin building up the forms of the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the background, creating depth and atmosphere with layers of color and soft blending.
step 05
Add details to the figures, such as facial features, clothing folds, and hair.
step 06
Paint the spinning wheel and other objects, focusing on their textures and forms.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and white, with touches of cadmium red for warmth. Create atmospheric perspective by adding blue and white to the background colors.

techniques

·portraiture
·figure drawing
·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of harmony.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt sienna, raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags