plate no. 7005

Portrait of M. M. Philosophova

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitwomandressfurlaceheadwear

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and dress.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, dress, fur, and headwear.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add the fur collar, focusing on creating a sense of texture and depth.
step 07
Paint the lace details of the headwear and collar, using fine brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism and depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · viridian

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · cerulean blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use viridian and ivory black to create the green of the dress, adjusting the shade with white or yellow. Achieve the fur color by mixing raw umber, ivory black, and a touch of red.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, viridian, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, cerulean blue)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags