plate no. 7056

Portrait of a Ballet Dancer L. A. Duport

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanhairclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portrait drawing, including proportion, shading, and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in rendering textures such as hair and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of features.
step 02
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using a light wash.
step 03
Develop the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Add details to the hair, using short, curved strokes to create texture and volume.
step 05
Define the clothing, including the collar, shirt, and jacket, using shading and line work.
step 06
Refine the background with hatching to create depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of realism.
step 08
Check proportions and adjust as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · white

Mix yellow ochre and white for skin tones, adding small amounts of burnt sienna for warmth and raw umber for shadows. Use ivory black and raw umber for the hair and clothing, diluting with water for lighter shades.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·blending
·dry brushing
·washes

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions can significantly alter the likeness.
→Overworking the details can make the portrait look stiff and unnatural.
→Failing to create enough contrast can result in a flat, lifeless image.
→Not paying attention to the direction of light can make the form appear distorted.