plate no. 9826

Portrait of V.A.Obreskova

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigurewomanhairclothingrococo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating soft, blended skin tones. It also offers practice in rendering fabric and hair with subtle variations in color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and hair, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown and gray.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin blending the skin tones, focusing on smooth transitions between light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the subject's likeness.
step 06
Develop the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Refine the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black for shadows. Mix small amounts of ultramarine blue with burnt sienna to create neutral darks.

techniques