plate no. 6470

Portrait of E. I. Nekludova

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredresslandscapehairshawl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and soft drapery. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with dark, muted greens and browns.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Begin layering the dress and shawl, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle shading.
step 06
Add details to the hair and head covering, creating texture and volume.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a cohesive and harmonious effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and details.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · Prussian blue

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black · sap green

Skin tones are achieved through mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The blue shawl is created by mixing Prussian blue with white and a hint of umber for shadows. Greens are created by mixing blue, yellow ochre and black.

techniques