plate no. 1011

Portrait of Madame Leblanc

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredressjewelrychairtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as blending techniques for smooth skin tones and rendering fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Establish the background with smooth, blended brushstrokes.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 06
Paint the jewelry and other accessories, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Carefully render the features of the face, capturing the subject's likeness.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, and small amounts of alizarin crimson and yellow ochre. Achieve the black of the dress by mixing ivory black with a touch of raw umber for depth.

techniques

·Blending
·Glazing
·Scumbling
·Chiaroscuro
·Portraiture

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in value and color.
→Losing the overall sense of harmony and balance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Easel