plate no. 3188

Portrait of a woman

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitwomanchairdresslacefurniture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations to create form. It also provides practice in rendering textures such as fabric and lace.

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 proportions of the figure and the placement of the chair and furniture.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark color, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, chair, and dress using simplified values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress and chair, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 06
Add the lace details, using thin layers of paint and fine brushes.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows throughout the painting, creating a sense of depth and volume.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · raw umber

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use small amounts of ultramarine blue to create the blue chair. Add alizarin crimson and yellow ochre to create skin tones.

techniques