plate no. 4935

Portrait of Teresa Michele Tittoni with Sons

watercolor, paperRomanticismportraitfiguresportraitchildrenclothingfamilyfabric

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict folds and textures in clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light pencil sketch outlining the main figures and their proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with light washes and gradually building up shadows and highlights.
step 04
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 05
Add details to the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Render the hair, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create volume.
step 07
Paint the patterned fabric, simplifying the design and focusing on the overall effect.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, sienna, crimson, and a touch of blue. Achieve the blue of the dress by mixing cerulean blue with white and a hint of grey.

techniques