plate no. 1685

Ritratto Di Dama Dalla Piuma Rossa

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurehatfeathersclothingjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of color and value to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main color areas, focusing on the red of the feathers and collar, the dark tones of the hat and cloak, and the flesh tones of the face.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Develop the textures of the hat, feathers, and clothing using broken brushstrokes and layering.
step 06
Add details to the jewelry and other accessories.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and value contrast to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · cadmium red · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Darken colors by adding black or burnt umber, and lighten them with white. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the reds and browns.

techniques

·alla prima
·scumbling
·glazing
·dry brushing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Failing to capture the subtle shifts in value and color in the face.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Ignoring the importance of accurate proportions in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, cadmium red, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw sienna, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags