plate no. 6301
Portrait of a Woman
Eastman Johnson, 1881
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering complex fabric textures with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through careful value control.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark greens and blues, creating a sense of depth.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall form and pose.
- step 04
Begin layering in the base colors of the dress, using a limited palette of whites, creams, and grays.
- step 05
Develop the light and shadow on the dress, carefully observing how light interacts with the fabric's folds and textures.
- step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create a realistic likeness.
- step 07
Add details such as the flowers, jewelry, and lace, using small brushes and precise strokes.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that all elements work together harmoniously.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Achieve the dress's shimmering effect by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber and burnt sienna. Use alizarin crimson and white for the skin tones, and ultramarine blue with white for the cooler shadows in the background.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·fabric rendering
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details of the dress, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the overall realism of the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-tooth canvas will provide a good surface for capturing the details of the dress.
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