plate no. 8462

Mrs. John Ashton

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfiguredresstablebookchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form.

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 and objects.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, dress, skin tones, table cloth.
step 03
Develop the values in the background, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows to sculpt the face.
step 05
Work on the details of the dress, including the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the table cloth, capturing the highlights and shadows that define its form.
step 07
Paint the book, focusing on its shape and texture.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · raw umber · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix blacks and whites to create various shades of gray for the dress and background. Use red and yellow ochre to create the skin tones, adding white for highlights and umber for shadows. Mix cadmium red with a touch of alizarin crimson to achieve the rich red of the table cloth.

techniques