plate no. 0850

Portrait of Queen Juliana

oilMagic Realismportraitportraitfigurebuildingskycloudsfur

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones with subtle variations, and creating realistic textures like fur and fabric. Students will also learn to create depth and atmosphere through careful observation of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, building, and sky.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, starting with the sky and then the building and landscape.
step 03
Roughly sketch the figure's features and clothing, paying attention to proportions and angles.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows to create depth and form.
step 05
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and accessories, such as the fur collar and pearl necklace, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the background details, adding highlights and shadows to the building and clouds to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the colors and values are balanced and harmonious.

color palette

primary · flesh tones (various) · cerulean blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve realistic skin tones by mixing various combinations of flesh tones, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Use payne's gray and titanium white to create the cool tones of the sky and clouds. Mix raw umber and ivory black to create the dark tones of the fur collar.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions can ruin the likeness of the portrait.
→Overblending can make the painting look flat and lifeless.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone can result in an unnatural appearance.
→Neglecting the background details can detract from the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (flesh tones, cerulean blue, titanium white, raw umber, payne's gray, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags