plate no. 9410

Mrs Robert Hollond

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigurewomandressshawljewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone blending, and rendering drapery folds. It also provides practice in creating a soft, diffused light effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 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 a light blue, gradually adding subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face, using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of subtle color mixing, focusing on smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the dress and shawl, capturing the folds and highlights with soft brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the hair, eyes, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Carefully render the jewelry, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. The shawl's pink is created by mixing red and white. Use blue and white for the sky, adding small amounts of umber for depth.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
→Making the brushstrokes too visible.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (oval shape if possible)
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted round and flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife