plate no. 0285

Portrait of Elizaveta Petrovna Zhdanova

oil, cardboardRealismportraitportraitfiguredressbookchairindoor

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 creating subtle gradations of color to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and red.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the dress, face, and hands.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to values and highlights.
step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the dress, using a variety of blues and purples.
step 06
Add details to the lace collar and cuffs, using small brushes and light colors.
step 07
Paint the book, focusing on the texture of the pages.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of purple by combining ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson. Use burnt umber to create shadows and warm tones. Add titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·color mixing
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure
→Overly harsh or flat lighting
→Inaccurate color mixing
→Lack of attention to detail in the facial features

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife
·rags