plate no. 0639

Portrait of Valentine Green

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding chiaroscuro for creating depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the figure's proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, skin tones, clothing, and hair.
step 03
Focus on establishing the dark background to create contrast.
step 04
Develop the skin tones using layers of thin paint, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the ruffles and the red coat.
step 07
Work on the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall form and depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · raw umber · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black to create the dark background. Mix red and yellow ochre for the coat.

techniques

·portraiture
·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to establish a strong value contrast.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, raw umber, burnt sienna)
·Assorted round and flat brushes
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags