plate no. 1993
Phoebe
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle skin tones, as well as understanding drapery and fabric folds.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and drapery using light pencil lines.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the details of the hat, including the texture of the feathers and the folds of the fabric.
- step 05
Work on the drapery, focusing on the way the fabric drapes and folds around the figure.
- step 06
Add the details of the red cushion, including the texture and the highlights.
- step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without being distracting.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ivory black and burnt umber to create the darks in the hat and drapery. Mix cadmium red with burnt umber and a touch of black for the red cushion.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·drapery study
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations in color.
- →Failing to capture the texture of the hat and drapery.
- →Creating a background that is too distracting.
- →Not paying attention to the way the light falls on the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to make it easier to establish the value structure.
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