plate no. 0809

Portrait of Mrs Tchang Ju Chi and Daughter

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguresclothingchairmotherdaughter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing fabric textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting realistic proportions and creating a sense of depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figures and chair.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral colors.
step 03
Begin layering in the base colors for the skin tones, focusing on the shadows and highlights.
step 04
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapes of the fabric.
step 05
Add details to the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the hair and other details, such as the glasses and the flower.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing cadmium red, yellow ochre, and titanium white, adjusting the ratios for different areas of the face. Mix blues and browns for the background and clothing, adding white to lighten the tones.

techniques