plate no. 7389
Portrait of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna (Charlotte of Prussia)
Christina Robertson, 1852
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering delicate fabrics and skin tones. It also provides practice in creating soft, atmospheric backgrounds.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad washes of color, creating depth and atmosphere.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the dress, fur, and face.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to light and shadow.
- step 05
Develop the details of the dress and fur, using layering and glazing techniques.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
- step 07
Paint the details of the lace and jewelry.
- step 08
Finalize the painting with subtle adjustments to color and value.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cadmium red · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and umber with small amounts of yellow ochre and blue. Create the red velvet by layering alizarin crimson and cadmium red, glazing with darker reds for shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·rendering fur
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure
- →Muddying the colors by over-mixing
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
