plate no. 5544

Portrait of the artist's daughter Elizabeth

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigurehatclothingbasketpearl necklace

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as practice blending and layering techniques to achieve realistic skin tones and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure and objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, clothing, and skin tones using thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering and blending colors to build up the form and volume of the face, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, hat, and basket, paying attention to the textures and patterns.
step 05
Refine the facial features, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the painting.
step 07
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and enhance the colors.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by blending titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cooler shadows.

techniques

·blending
·layering
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong, especially in the face.
→Overworking the paint and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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