plate no. 3382

Portrait of Ekaterina Petrovna Shuvalova

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfigureclothingchaircolumnbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, paying attention to the light source.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and hair.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle shading.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the ruffles, sash, and fur, using layering and blending techniques.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 07
Paint the hands and the letter, paying attention to the folds and creases.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber. The blue velvet is created by mixing ultramarine blue with black and a touch of red. The white fabric is achieved by layering white with subtle hints of grey and yellow.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·glazing
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure.
→Overly harsh or muddy color mixtures.
→Lack of attention to subtle value changes.
→Ignoring the light source and its effect on the forms.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Soft cloth