plate no. 2107

Portrait of a lady

watercolor, paperRomanticismportraitportraitwomandressfur stolechairfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering delicate fabrics and textures. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and subtle color transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral color, paying attention to the soft, diffused light.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the dress, focusing on the folds and drapery. Use a mix of blues and blacks to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Render the fur stole, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using fine brushes and subtle color variations.
step 07
Paint the chair, paying attention to the wood grain and the way the light reflects off the surface.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the dark blue of the dress by mixing ultramarine blue and ivory black. Create the fur stole's color by blending raw umber, burnt umber, and a touch of black and white.

techniques