plate no. 0223

Portrait in Red and Gold of Miss Pearson

Joseph DeCamp, 1921

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingredgold

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and drapery with subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the patterns and folds.
step 06
Develop the background, adding subtle variations in tone and color.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones using burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red. Create the dark background by mixing burnt umber and ivory black. Achieve the gold tones by mixing yellow ochre with touches of burnt sienna and white.

techniques