plate no. 5622

Portrait of a lady in a lace edged dress

Frank Dicksee, 1915

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurelacedressrosesbook

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practice rendering delicate textures like lace.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure and objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Refine the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and realism.
step 04
Begin adding details to the dress, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 05
Carefully render the lace, using thin brushes and light colors to create the delicate texture.
step 06
Paint the roses, paying attention to their form and color variations.
step 07
Add details to the background and other elements, such as the book and jewelry.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a harmonious and realistic painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the lace color by mixing white with a small amount of grey or blue. Darken colors with burnt umber and lighten with white.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·rendering lace
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong
→Oversimplifying the skin tones
→Making the lace look flat and unrealistic
→Ignoring the subtle color variations

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert, small detail brush)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags