plate no. 2714

My Great Grandmother

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredressbackgroundhairlace

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through subtle color variations.

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 the figure's pose.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the dress and skin tones, paying attention to value relationships.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 05
Add details to the dress, including the folds, textures, and lace.
step 06
Work on the hair, creating volume and movement with varied brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine blue and white, adding small amounts of burnt umber to create darker, muted tones. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·fabric rendering
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere in the background.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette knife