plate no. 0919

Princess Charlotte of Belgium

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguredressflowersbowchild

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as the ability to depict fabric folds and 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 overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of dark brown and gradually build up the highlights.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a limited palette of white, yellow ochre, and red.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create smooth transitions and subtle variations.
step 05
Paint the dress, focusing on capturing the folds and highlights with varying shades of white and gray.
step 06
Add the details of the flowers and bow, paying attention to their colors and textures.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · sap green

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the blue of the bow. Use alizarin crimson and white for the pink flowers.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·layering
·fabric rendering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure
→Muddy skin tones
→Overly harsh blending
→Lack of attention to detail in the fabric folds

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas
·Oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, sap green)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife