plate no. 1648

Queen Charlotte

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguredresshairjewelrycurtain

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as techniques for depicting fabric 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 main shapes and colors of the background, dress, and hair.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress, including the ruffles, bows, and fabric folds.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Paint the jewelry and other accessories, paying attention to their reflective qualities.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of pink and purple for the dress by combining alizarin crimson, titanium white, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use yellow ochre and ivory black to create muted tones for the hair and background.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·rendering fabric
·creating highlights

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
→Overly harsh or unnatural skin tones.
→Lack of depth and dimension in the dress.
→Ignoring subtle value changes.
→Getting lost in the details too early.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, raw umber)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife