plate no. 0414
Princess Diana
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of color.
- step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle color variations.
- step 04
Develop the details of the dress, focusing on the folds and ruffles.
- step 05
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
- step 06
Add the jewelry and other small details.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red
secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. The green of the skirt is a mix of viridian and ultramarine blue, lightened with white.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·color mixing
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
- →Making the background too distracting.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) is recommended.
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