plate no. 2236

Portrait of Young Lady

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfiguredressfanchairlace

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding fabric folds and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, and chair.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds, patterns, and lace.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Paint the fan and other accessories.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color harmony.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of blue or umber. Create the dress colors by mixing white with small amounts of blue, yellow, and red. Use glazes to create depth.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·rendering fabric
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong
→Overworking the details too early
→Not paying attention to the light source
→Using colors that are too saturated

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags