plate no. 1095

Mrs. John O'Donnell (Sarah Chew Elliott)

oilRococoportraitportraitwomandresslandscapejewelryribbon

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending, as well as rendering fabric and details like jewelry.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with thin washes of color, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the dress, paying attention to the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Add the ribbon, carefully blending the colors to create a soft, flowing effect.
step 06
Paint the chair and other details, such as the jewelry and the landscape elements.
step 07
Refine the details and add finishing touches, such as highlights and shadows.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The dress is primarily white with subtle variations of yellow and gray. The ribbon is a mix of red and white with touches of umber for shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions
→Muddy skin tones
→Overly harsh blending
→Lack of attention to detail

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red light, viridian, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Easel