plate no. 9215

Portrait of the artist`s sister Christina and mother Frances

oilRomanticismportraitfiguresportraitswomenclothinghair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations to create form. It also encourages careful observation of facial features and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the two figures, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of diluted blue.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the faces, hair, and clothing, using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin to build up the values in the faces, using subtle gradations to create form and volume.
step 05
Add details to the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to their shapes and proportions.
step 06
Work on the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix raw umber and white for skin tones, adding small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt sienna for warmth. Use Prussian blue diluted with water for the background.

techniques