plate no. 7578

Portrait of E. A. Vorontsova

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredressribbonlacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow.

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 torso.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted green and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and body using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the lace, ribbons, and fabric folds.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the hair, adding individual strands and flyaways.
step 08
Add final details and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · viridian green · ivory black · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for shadows. Achieve the green of the ribbon by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and white.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong
→Oversaturating the colors
→Not blending the skin tones smoothly
→Losing the likeness of the subject

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red light, viridian green, ivory black, raw sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags