plate no. 2816

Portrait of Natalia Pavlovna Stroganova

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresshairfacecollar

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle color blending for skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering delicate fabrics and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly 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 green and brown, creating a soft, blended effect.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, using a light flesh tone and paying attention to the placement of features.
step 04
Begin to build up the skin tones with subtle layers of color, blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the hair, using dark browns and blacks to define the curls and highlights to add dimension.
step 06
Render the dress with light whites and creams, capturing the folds and drapery with soft shadows.
step 07
Carefully paint the lace collar, paying attention to the delicate details and subtle variations in tone.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the face, hair, and dress, refining the overall composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · sap green · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve the background color by mixing sap green and raw umber, adjusting the proportions to create a muted, earthy tone.

techniques