plate no. 8925
Portrait of Elizabeth of Russia
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It will also provide practice in painting intricate details like lace and jewelry.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic proportions and pose.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, background.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
- step 05
Paint the lace and jewelry, using small brushes and careful strokes.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · gold
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use ultramarine blue and black for the sash. Mix gold with yellow ochre and burnt umber for the clothing details.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·rendering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Not paying enough attention to the details in the clothing and jewelry.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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