plate no. 9660
Portrait of Amanzia Guérillot at the mirror
Angelo Inganni, 1856
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using chiaroscuro.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
- step 03
Develop the background, focusing on creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 04
Refine the figure's features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing and accessories, such as the lace and jewelry.
- step 06
Work on the mirror and reflections, capturing the subtle nuances of light.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and contrast to create a cohesive image.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Darken areas with burnt umber and black. Use ultramarine to cool down shadows.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
- →Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Not paying enough attention to the light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned ground to help establish the overall color harmony.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
