plate no. 7230
Portrait of a lady in profile
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle facial features and rendering light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in blending and layering paint to achieve a soft, realistic effect.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the woman's profile and main features (head, neck, shoulders).
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using a limited palette.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes and proportions.
- step 05
Develop the highlights and shadows on the clothing, creating a sense of depth and volume.
- step 06
Add the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to suggest texture.
- step 07
Paint the flower detail, focusing on its color and form.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix white with small amounts of umber and sienna for skin tones. Use alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue for the flower, adjusting with white for highlights.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·value studies
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong foundation of values.
- →Using too much paint and losing the subtle gradations.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, raw sienna, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use a fine-weave canvas for smoother blending. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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