plate no. 1382

Portrait of a Woman

Achille Beltrame, 1917

oilAcademicismportraitfigureportraitwomandresshairribbon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and soft lighting. It also offers practice in capturing delicate fabric folds and subtle color transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with soft, blended tones of white, cream, and light brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, starting with the skin tones using a mix of pinks, yellows, and whites.
step 04
Develop the shadows and highlights on the face and body to create form and depth.
step 05
Paint the dress, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and the way the fabric drapes.
step 06
Add the blue ribbon, using darker shades of blue to create shadows and lighter shades for highlights.
step 07
Refine the details of the hair and headband, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow, and red, adjusting the ratios for highlights and shadows. Use ultramarine blue and white for the ribbon, adding touches of black for deeper shadows.

techniques

·blending
·scumbling
·layering
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
→Ignoring the importance of soft edges and blending.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·titanium white oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·cadmium yellow oil paint
·alizarin crimson oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium (e.g., Liquin)
·soft pastels (for underpainting)

A smooth canvas surface is recommended for achieving the soft, blended effects in this painting. Consider using a toned canvas (light beige or gray) to help establish the initial values.

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