plate no. 5128

Portrait of Chloe Boughton-Leigh

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomandressnecklacehands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric folds and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral colors.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones, layering subtle variations of color.
step 05
Define the features of the face, focusing on capturing the likeness.
step 06
Add details to the dress, rendering the folds and shadows.
step 07
Paint the hands, paying attention to the subtle forms and highlights.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the dark tones of the dress by mixing black and umber, adding touches of blue or purple for variation.

techniques

·portraiture
·scumbling
·glazing
·value studies
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Not capturing the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas
·Oil paints (raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags

optional

·Medium gloss
·Retouch varnish
·Easel

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for subtle blending and layering. Consider using a limited palette to create a harmonious and unified painting.

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