plate no. 0487

Mrs Annie Murdoch

George Washington Lambert, 1927

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureclothingfurjewelryelderly

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict textures like fur and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the basic proportions and pose of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color, starting with the background.
step 03
Develop the skin tones by layering and blending subtle variations of color.
step 04
Add details to the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Render the clothing and fur, focusing on capturing the texture and folds.
step 06
Paint the jewelry, adding highlights to create a sense of sparkle.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and details, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing raw sienna, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small additions of cadmium red and alizarin crimson for warmth. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark background.

techniques

·portraiture
·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·rendering textures

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
→Getting lost in details too early, before establishing the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags