plate no. 0071
Portrait of Lizzie Ansingh
Thérèse Schwartze, 1902
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using a limited palette to create depth and form. It will also improve their understanding of brushwork and how to use it to suggest texture and light.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's basic proportions and pose.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas: skin, clothing, hat, and background.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
- step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, using visible brushstrokes to suggest texture.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Soften edges where needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · sap green
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Create the green by mixing yellow ochre, sap green, and a touch of umber. Use black and umber for the dark areas, lightening with white as needed.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Making the values too uniform and losing the sense of depth.
- →Not capturing the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, and 6
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·easel
Use a medium-sized canvas, around 16x20 inches. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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