plate no. 0823
Portrait of Marthe Marie Tronchin
Jean-Étienne Liotard, 1758
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone variations, and rendering of delicate textures like lace and fur. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and capturing a likeness.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even layer of pastel.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, using light and shadow to define the form.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending pastels to create smooth transitions in skin tone.
- step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to their placement and shape.
- step 06
Render the clothing, starting with the darkest areas and gradually adding lighter tones.
- step 07
Carefully depict the lace and fur, using small, precise strokes to capture their texture.
- step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · ivory black
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use blue and white for the ribbons, and black and white for the fur.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·hatching
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong, especially in the face.
- →Overworking the pastels and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
- →Making the lace and fur look flat and lifeless.
materials
surface · Pastel paper (toned)
required
- ·Pastel set (soft and hard)
- ·Pastel pencils
- ·Pastel paper (toned)
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Blending stumps
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Drawing board
- ·Reference photo
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Workable fixative
- ·Glassine paper
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to grip the pastel. A toned paper will make it easier to establish the values.
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