plate no. 4805

Portrait of Janet Dundas

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresslandscapetreesjewelry

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice portraiture techniques, focusing on skin tones and fabric folds. Students can also learn about creating soft backgrounds and capturing a likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using subtle color variations.
step 04
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the eyes and mouth.
step 05
Paint the dress, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details such as the jewelry and hair.
step 07
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve the dress color by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber. The background is a mix of burnt umber, raw sienna, and ultramarine blue.

techniques