plate no. 8729

Portrait of Vita Sackville-West

Philip de Laszlo, 1910

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanhatclothingjewelry

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating depth using atmospheric perspective and soft edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and hat.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, and background.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Soften edges where appropriate to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue for the dark areas of the clothing and hat. Mix yellow ochre and white for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·chiaroscuro
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Getting the proportions wrong
→Using too much paint
→Creating harsh edges

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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