plate no. 9070

Portrait of Alexandra Perfilyeva, née Countess Tolstaya

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredresshairjewelryrococo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as blending techniques to create soft transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and dress.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle layers of color to create a smooth and realistic effect.
step 05
Add details to the hair, including highlights and shadows to create volume and texture.
step 06
Paint the dress, focusing on the folds and drapery, and add the lace details.
step 07
Add the jewelry and other accessories, paying attention to their reflective qualities.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a harmonious and balanced image.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the blue dress color by mixing ultramarine blue with titanium white and a touch of ivory black for shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·layering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and volume.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, raw umber, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife