plate no. 0321
Portrait of Empress Elisabeth Alexeievna
Vladimir Borovikovsky, 1795
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric folds and subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of color.
- step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on subtle color transitions and highlights.
- step 04
Paint the dress and shawl, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, jewelry, and background.
- step 06
Refine the facial features and expression.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a harmonious composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian · burnt umber
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and white for the blue dress, and add a touch of yellow ochre for the gold fabric.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·color matching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the fabric.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·viridian oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-tooth canvas will provide a good surface for blending and layering.
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