plate no. 9329

Portrait of Queen Alexandra, When Princess of Wales, with Facey

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfiguredogdressjewelrycouch

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as techniques for depicting fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figure and dog.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes, focusing on the overall color and value.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the dress, skin tones, and hair.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the dress, jewelry, and other accessories.
step 06
Paint the dog, capturing its unique features and fur texture.
step 07
Blend and refine the transitions between colors and values.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · crimson · ivory black · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium red

Mix various shades of red and brown for the background and couch. Use white and yellow ochre to create highlights on the skin and fabric. Mix blue and black for the dress.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·rendering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure
→Overblending, resulting in a flat appearance
→Inaccurate skin tones
→Neglecting the details of the fabric and jewelry

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (crimson, ivory black, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium red)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags