Portrait of a Woman, Traditionally Identified as Margaret Stuart, Lady Hippisley

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and a touch of burnt umber. The blue dress is created with ultramarine blue and white, with subtle variations achieved by adding small amounts of burnt umber or black. The veil is a mix of white and a touch of umber.

techniques

• ·portrait painting
• ·glazing
• ·blending
• ·scumbling
• ·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

• →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
• →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
• →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
• →Making the veil too opaque.