plate no. 7320

Portrait of Dorothy Jordan as Rosalind in ‘As You Like It’

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigureclothingscarfhatprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in using a limited palette to create subtle variations in tone and color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 05
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the background, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix burnt umber and white for skin tones, adding small amounts of red or yellow ochre to adjust the warmth. Use ivory black to darken colors and create shadows.

techniques