plate no. 0381

Olivia Peyton Murray Cutting Wife of William Bayard

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfiguredressfanpearlscouch

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering skin tones, as well as techniques for depicting fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background and main shapes of the figure with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the face and dress.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the fan, lace, and jewelry.
step 07
Refine the background and add any remaining details.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · viridian · raw umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve the skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson. Use ivory black sparingly to create shadows. The pink dress is achieved by mixing alizarin crimson and titanium white, adjusting the ratio for lighter and darker shades.

techniques