plate no. 8029

Portrait of Ann Barbara Hill Medlycott

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitwomandresspearlsshawlfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric folds and textures.

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 hand.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of brown and gradually build up darker tones.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the skin, dress, and shawl, paying attention to the overall color harmony.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the lace, folds, and patterns.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the fabric and jewelry.
step 07
Work on the details of the hair and accessories.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Create the blue fabric by mixing ultramarine blue with titanium white and a touch of raw umber. Mix alizarin crimson and titanium white for the pink shawl.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·blending
·rendering fabric
·creating soft edges

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the face and body
→Overly harsh or muddy skin tones
→Lack of attention to detail in the fabric folds
→Ignoring the subtle value changes that create depth

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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