plate no. 3514

Portrait of Alfred and Elizabeth Dedreux

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitfigureschildrenportraitlandscapeskyclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the drapery of the clothing, focusing on how the fabric folds and drapes over the figures' forms.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Paint the background, using soft, blended brushstrokes to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the edges of the figures and objects, softening some and sharpening others to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of form and light.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of skin tones using titanium white, raw umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red light. Create atmospheric blues by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of raw umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Neglecting the importance of edges.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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