plate no. 2169
Portrait of a Woman
Juan Carreño de Miranda, 1660
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering details like lace and jewelry. It also provides practice in achieving realistic skin tones and hair texture.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and background.
- step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing.
- step 03
Block in the background with a thin layer of red paint.
- step 04
Begin layering skin tones, focusing on subtle variations in color and value.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Paint the lace collar, paying attention to the intricate patterns.
- step 07
Render the jewelry, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the overall composition as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre
secondary · ivory black · gold · pink
Mix skin tones by blending white, umber, ochre, and a touch of red. Use white and black to create the lace color. Mix gold with ochre and umber.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·rendering lace
- ·rendering jewelry
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong
- →Oversimplifying the skin tones
- →Making the lace look flat
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·variety of round and flat brushes
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Girl with a Straw Hat
Judith Leyster
Gezicht Op De Laurenskerk Gezien Vanuit Noordoosten
Abraham Storck
Bathsheba Bathing
Francesco Solimena
Repentant Peter
Guido Reni
Itinerant Musicians
Jacob Ochtervelt
Marie Christine
Marcello Bacciarelli
Santa Cecilia E Due Angeli
Giulio Cesare Procaccini
Scene from the Life of Saint Benedict
Philippe de Champaigne