plate no. 6012
Portrait of a Florentine Lady
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportioning of facial features and rendering of subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures and details in clothing and jewelry.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic proportions of the face, neck, and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, using thin washes of color to establish the light and shadow.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
- step 05
Start working on the clothing, blocking in the main colors and shapes.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the ruffles, embroidery, and jewelry.
- step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
- step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the overall effect.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · gold
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and brown. Use thin washes of ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson to create the purplish hues in the clothing. Mix gold with raw umber to create the gold embroidery.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·rendering textures
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette knife
- ·soft cloth
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will allow for easier blending.
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