plate no. 7037

Portrait of a Young Lady

oilBaroquegenre paintingportraitwomandogdressfurarchitecture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create depth and volume.

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 key elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure's skin, dress, and fur.
step 03
Develop the values and tones in the face, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
step 04
Refine the details of the dress, including the folds and drapery, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Paint the fur, using short, broken brushstrokes to create a sense of texture and depth.
step 06
Add the details of the dog, including its eyes, nose, and fur.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details, such as the jewelry and architectural elements.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of skin tone using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create depth in the dark areas by mixing burnt umber with ivory black. Achieve the off-white of the dress by mixing white with a small amount of yellow ochre and burnt umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not paying enough attention to the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Soft cloths