plate no. 4775

Portrait of Praskovya Nikolayevna Lanskaya

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigurewomandresshairrococo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering delicate details like lace and hair. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and creating soft, diffused lighting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval composition and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: background, skin tones, dress, and hair.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to define the shadows and highlights on the face and body.
step 04
Refine the skin tones with subtle color variations, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 05
Add details to the dress, including the lace and ruffles, using small brushstrokes and varying values.
step 06
Develop the hair, using a combination of light and dark tones to create volume and texture.
step 07
Blend and soften edges as needed to create a smooth, painterly effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the portrait to life.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black · sap green

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red light. Use raw umber and ivory black to create shadows. Mix sap green with yellow ochre and white for the dress.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, raw umber, cadmium red light, ivory black, sap green)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels