plate no. 8869

Portrait of Faktor Fjellerups Kone

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingruffhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle color mixing for skin tones, and rendering fabric textures. It's a good exercise in achieving a smooth, realistic finish.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and ruff.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown and gradually build up the darker areas.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and ruff, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones by layering subtle variations of color, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the ruff, using small brushstrokes to create the folds and texture.
step 06
Paint the hair, focusing on the overall shape and volume, and then add individual strands for detail.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing, including the folds and highlights.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium red. The background is primarily burnt umber with small additions of black and white to adjust the value. The orange dress is cadmium red and yellow ochre.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong, especially the placement of facial features.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
→Making the ruff look flat and lifeless.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·Round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 6)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife