plate no. 9643
Portrait of Madame Morrisson
Carolus-Duran, 1862
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and headpiece.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
- step 06
Add the details of the lace collar and jewelry.
- step 07
Carefully render the headpiece, capturing the texture and form of the flowers.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and values.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson or ultramarine blue for shadows. Achieve the dark background by mixing ivory black and raw umber.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·tonal painting
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·rendering details
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of facial features
- →Over-blending, resulting in a flat appearance
- →Getting the skin tones too saturated
- →Neglecting subtle value changes
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth of the colors.
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