plate no. 8462
Portrait of Pauline Ono
Jean-Francois Millet, 1844
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric folds and drapery.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, background.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value.
- step 04
Develop the drapery of the clothing, focusing on the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Refine the hair and headscarf, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Adjust the background to create depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones using white, umber, sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use ultramarine and white for the cooler tones in the fabric. Mix browns and grays for the background.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value in the clothing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches) is recommended.
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