plate no. 1028

Portrait of a Lady with Her Dog and a Maid

canvas, oilBaroqueportraitfiguresdogflowerstabledraperybasket

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including rendering skin tones and capturing likeness, as well as practice painting drapery and still life elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the table.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a mix of browns and blacks.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, paying attention to proportions.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the drapery, focusing on the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the dog, capturing its fur texture and expression.
step 07
Paint the flowers, using a variety of colors and brushstrokes to create visual interest.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust values to create a cohesive and realistic painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the dark background by blending umber, black, and a hint of blue.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·drapery rendering

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting lost in details too early in the process.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags